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YOHK, PA. 




The BiiiUfiin^? in wliicli the Aiiu ruan Con 
gress *at[ dnring the jjloomiest pe- 
riod oi* the Kevohition. 



HISTORY 



OF 



^©BE m^'wmTWi 



FROM ITS ERECTION TO THE PRESENT TIME. 




Br W. C. Carter and A. J. Glossbrcnncr. 



YORK, PA. 

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY A. J. GLOSSBUENNEIlr 
1834. 



/' i^^^H 



PREFACE. 

In presenting to the public a "History of York County," 
I deem it not iinpi-'if'^r to state, that of tlie two persons 
named on ths title page as joint authors of the ' History," 
the first named was tiie originator of the \vork. 

Mr. Carter labored nssidtious'y. for several years, in col- 
lecting matter for a "History of York Couiity." lie spent 
many a day in wandering over remote parts of the county 
in searcli of such facts as had no record but in the memory 
of the silver ha:red renresi^ntatives of a generation long pas- 
sed away. Mnny a weary hour he spent in examining, page 
jjy pago, the old ro':ords m our public offices. In shorty no 
pains were spared by him in the effort to gather all the ma- 
terials requisite to the accomplisliment of the object he had 
in view. From some causD wliich I have been unable to 
learn, Sir. Carter, when he had nearly completed the work, 
laid aside his manuscripts in a crude and unfinished state, 
in which condition 1 found ihem when, several years after 
his death, they cams into nij possession. 

Having hurriedly thrown together such of the notes as I 
found completed, I commenced printing the work. In doing 
so 1 erred. For it has led to the necessity of here apologi- 



y 



PREFACE. 

aing for slisbt deviations from order in presenting the mat- 
ter of the volume. 

In the hnrr> of printing, I was often compelled, while one 
sheet was in the press, to prep:ire m.itler for the next; and as 
Mr.Carter's notes on somo.subjects were mere skeletons^ and on 
others nearly ready for the hands of the compositor, I was some- 
times induced to silence the call for "more co()y,"by hand- 
incrtothe workman such matter as co.iKl most readily be pre- 
pared. This was sometimes done without a very strict enqui- 
ry as tu Uie ri;:;hi of hnSieilule succession of the article thus 
prepared. It is h^ped, however, that, as the reader loses no- 
thing in quantity of mutter, he will pardon the slight devia- 
tion fiO.n correctness in thj ordsr in which ihil mitter is 
given. The dishes announced in the bill of fare will all be 
found — buttlieyare not arrm^-d on th? t^hleexictly in the 
order in which a regular /)r:>/e35Jj' dz culshie would have 
desired. 

I cannot clos3 this prefice without tendering my thanks 
to many gentlemen in the county for their kind aid during 
khe j)r(>gres3 of tha work — to the Register and Recorder for 
their courtesy in allowing m3 freely to exanoine the records 
in their respective o.Ti^es — and to Calvin Mason, Esq., for 
a geoioirical sketch of the countv. 

Confident that all the promises in the prospectus have 
been more than redeemed— that they have been exceeded 
in the fulBlment, I hope tint the work, as it is now respect- 
fully pr?sented to the public, will meet a kind and general 
fecepiion. 

The Public's very obedient servant, 

A. J. Gl.OSSJ31l£NNBll' 



IXDEX. 

Indian Purcliasp, - - - - 1-2 

SpringettSDury Manor, - - _ - 15 

Treaty between G)v. Keith and Indians, - -17 

Speecch of Gov. Keith, - - - 17 

Speech of Tawenna, - _ . - 19 

Settlement of Krcutz creek, - - - - 23 

Settlement of the '-Birrens, - - - - 26 

Settlement of Newberry, &.C., - - - 27 

Erection of tlie county, - - - - 29 

An>'iunt bound iries of the county, - - - 30 

Present bounduy, - - - - - 31 

Erection of townsliips, - - _ - 31 

Boroucrh of York, - - - - 32 

Lutherati Congregation in York, - _ > 40 

English E|)iscopal church, . - - 4"* 

English Presbyterian church, - - - 4, 

Presbyterian cliurch at Slate Ridge, - - 4S 

Germm Reformed church, - - - 50 

Ro:nan Catholic chnrcli, - _ _ 54 

Methodist Ej)iscopal church, _ . - 55 

Moravian church, - - - 56 

York County Academy, - - - - 57 

Tiieological Seminary, _ _ . 59 

Borough of Hanover, - - - .GO 

Poor House, - - - - - 65 

Directors of the Poor, - - - - 67 

Stewards of the Poorhouse, _ - - 68 

Clerks to the Directors of the Poor, ■• - 69 

Physicians of the hospital, • - - 69 

Overseers of the Poor, - - - - 69 

Attorneys, - - _ - - 70 



IKDEX. 

Revolution, - - - - - "^^ 

Pensioners, - - " - - 83 

Congress, - ~ - " - - 89 

Printings - - - " - - 96 

Gnbcrjiatorial Elections, - - - - 101 

State Senators, - - - - ' '^^t 

]>I embers of the Legislature, - - - lOr 

Sheriffs, - - - - - 1'- 

Coroners, - - "" " -^^^ 

Commissioners, - - " ~ - 118 
Treasurers, - - '." " 

Justicesof the Peace, - - - " 1'^'2 

Census of the County, - - - - 1^^ 

Protlionotaries, - - "* - - 13a 

Clerks to the Court of Quarter Sessions, - - l36 

CIciUs or Registers to the Orphan's Court, - " l^J^ 

Registers, - - - ' - 137' 

f"^ Recorders, - - - - - 137 

^ Notaries Public, ----- V61 

\ Chief Ranger, - - - - 138 

Delegates lo certain provincial and state com-entionSj 135 

Fairs, - 3 47 

Kates in Taverns, - - - - - 149 

Courts, - - - - - 140 

•istrict Court, - - - - 142 

esident Judges, - - - " 14S 

sociate Judges, - - ~ - 145 

,. Dady, - - - - 145 

' Postoffices and Postmasters, - - - 157 

Markets, ----- 158 

Militia, - - - - - 153 

The late War, - - - - 154 

'^York Volunteers," - - - - 157 

Conspiracy of the blacks, - - - 1 6 i 

"Ice flood," - - - - - 164 

Flood of 1786, - - - - 164 

Flood of 1817, _ - - - 164 

Flood of 1822, - - - - 170 

Riot in 1786, - . - - - 171 

Snow Storm in 1772, - - - - 172 

Hail Storm in 1797, - - - - 172 

Fire in 1797, - . - - 17S 



INDEX. 

Drought of 13'2'2, - - - - 176 

Geology of York County, - - -116 

Mineral Deposits, - - - 177 

Incorporated Boroughs in York county, - 178 

Unincorporated towns in York county, - - 181 

Public Improvements in Y^ork county, - - 18-i 

INDEX TO THE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Col. Thomas Hartley, Appendix, page 4 

Hon. James Smith, _ - - - 7 

Pifcv. Lucas Piaii^, - - - -J.''' 

Gen. Henry Miller, - - - - 15 

Col. Michael Schmeiser, . , . - 21 

Rev. Samuel Bacon, - - _ 22 

Michael Eurirh, - . - - 24 

Gen. .lames Ewing, - - - - 25 

Rev. Jacob Georing, - - - - 26 

Gen. John C'aik, . - - - 28 

Gen. Jacob Drill, - - - - SO 



HXSTORir or iroRis countit. 

CHAPTER I. 
INDIAN PURCHASE. 

^^^ oon after the first arriva) of William Penx in the 
W^ province of Pennsylvania, which was in the year 
^•"-^ 1682, he took measures to have the river Susque- 
hanna and all the lands lying on both sides of it, 
purchased of the Indians for the use of him and his heirs^ 
The lands were not then the property of the Indians who 
dwelt on them: for in a war some years preceding that 
time, the original inhabitants along the banks of the Sus- 
quehanna had been conquered by their more powerful 
though not more warlike enemies. The Indians of the 
Five Nations, who dwelt principally in what is now the 
state of New-York, were conquerors in the savage war; 
and in right of such their victory, they had or claimed a 
right to all the lands possessed by their southern neighbors. 
It was to them, therefore, that Penn was to apply in making 
a purchase of the lands on both sides of the river Susque- 
hanna. 

As Penn's time was wholly occupied by affairs immedi- 
ately within the limits of his infant province, he had not lei- 
sure to visit New-York and there make a purchase of the 
Indians in person. Being so circumstanced, he employed 
as an agent, upon this occasion. Colonel Thomas Dongan, 
who had been governor of New-York, and was. afterwards, 
carl of Limerick, in Ireland. 

Dongan held a number of councils with the Indians, and 
at last purchased, or had given hitn, "all that tract of land 
A 



^^ HISTORY OF YORK COUWTY. 



lying on both sides of the river Susquehanna, and the lakes 
adj -cent, in or near the province of Pennsjivania " *'be- 
ginning at the mountains or head of said river, and runninL' 
as far as and into the hay of Chesapeak." What Dongan 
gave the Indians for this land, we do not know; but, liav- 
ing purchased it, he convey rd it to Penn on the I3th day 
of January, 1696, "in consideration of one hundred pounds 
sterling." i ' 

Dongan's deed was confirmed on the 13th day of Sep- 
tember, 1700, by a deed given to Penn by ^'WWJiGH Sc 
^I)DAGYJV.^KqUAlH. Kings or\achemsoftjl 
Susquehanna Indians.'' This deed is "for all the river 
Susquehanna and all the islands therein, and all the lands 
iying on both sides of the said river, and next adjoinim: 
to the same, to the utmost confines of the lands which are, 
or formerly were, the right of the people or nation called 
the Susquehanna Indians.''^ 

The Conestogoe Indians were displeased with the salo 
made by th.- Five Nations, believing that the latter tribe 
had no right to make it. They accordingly complained to 
Penn; and he, in their presence, took out the deed of parch- 
ment, and, laying it on the ground, told them that the lands 
should still be in common between his people and them 
1 he Conestoffoes again made complaints concerning thi« 
purchase at their treaty with Sir William Keith in 1 722. 

As yet the lands on the west side of the Susquehanna 
were not considered as pnr< based of the Indians: for the 
words in the deed of 1700, -next adjoinino; to the same '> 
wcro inconsisient vsith an f-xtensive westward puiciie^ • 
and the Indians of the Five Nations still c( ntinued not- 
withstanding their de.ds. to claim a right to the river and 
the adjoining lands. The sachems or' chiefs, with all the 
others of the Five Nations, met in the summer of 1736 at 
a great council held in the country ofthe Onondagoes • and 
as the old claims h^d not as yet been adjusted, they resol- 
ved, that a conclusion should be put to all disputes connec- 
ted thrrewith. They accordingly, appointed their sachems 
or chiefs as plenipotentMries to repair to Philadelphia, and 
there, among other things, settle and adjust all demands and 
claims connected with the Susquehanna and the adjoining 
lands. After their arrival nt Philadelphia, they renewed 
Old treaties of friendship, and on the 11th of October made 



KI STORY OF YORK COUNTY. 15 

a deed to John, Thomas and Richard Penn. The deed, 
which was signeid by twenty three Indian chiefs of the On- 
cndagoe, Seneca, Oneida and Tuscarora natioris, granted 
"all the river Susquehanna, and all the lands lying on the 
west side of the said river to the setting of the sun, and to 
extend northward up the same to the hills or mountains 
called, in the language of the Five Nations, Tayaniente' 
sachta, and by the Delaware Indians, the Kekachtanamin 
hills." On that day, (the 11th of October, 1736,) and not 
before, do we find the lands of this part of Pennsylvania 
clearly the property of the Penns, and freed from all Indian 
cliiims. 

It is a thing which may well excite wonder that a hun- 
dred years ago the Indians possessed the fields and the val- 
leys which we now cultivate, and that at present there is 
hardly a trace or a mark here of such beings ever having ex- 
isted. They seem to have passed a" ay like the beasts that 
then inhabited the wilderness, leaving no monument of a 
former existence. _ a. i,- 

When Springettsbury Manor ws laid out in I72ih, this 
part of Pennsytvania was (with the exception of the Mary- 
land intruders) inhabited by none but Indians. In the 
year 1736, when the lands west of the -usquehannah were 
purchased of the Indians, the only white settlements in the 
county, were Jirstly, under Pennsylvania rights, within the 
limits of Springettsbury Manor, and secondly^ under 
Maryland rights, in the southern part of this county, and of 
what is now Adams county, in. hiding the region round u- 
bout Hanover. The rest of the lands was in the undisturb- 
ed possession of the Indians. Even in the white settlements 
the Indians still had huts. 



CHAPTER II. 

SPRINGETTSBURY MAIS OR. 

About the year 1684, a violent dispute arose between 
William Penn and Lord Baltimore, concerning the bounda- 

A 2 



^^ HISTORY OF YORK COU.VTY. 

ly line between Pennsylvania and Maryland. The dispute 
continued until the death ofPenn, in the year 1718, when 
It assumed, on the part of the Maryland'^rs, a character of 
violence and aggression hitherto unknown to it. Their ob- 
ject was to make settlements many miles up into the pres- 
ent state of Pennsylvania ; and having thus taken posses- 
sion of the hnds, to hold them by the strong arm of pow- 
er. With these views they pushed their settlements with 
great rapidity along the S.isquehanna : even in 172 2, many 
of Uiem were within a short distance of the present borongl, 

Such quick work, and energetic proceedings on the lart 
ot the Marylanders frightened Sir William Keitli, v. ho was 
then Lieutenant Governor of the province of PennsylvnniR. 
Iveilh being zealous for the pro|.rietary interest, wa« a^x- 
jous to hinder these encruarhmcnts on what he believed to 
be the property of the heirs of Penn; but affairs were so 
circumstanced, that he hardly knew how to attempt the ful- 
filment of his strong wish. 

The lands had not, as yet, been purchased from the In- 
dians by the proprietor of Pennsylvania, and much less by 
that of Maryland The adherents of Lord Baltinmre, litUe 
caring whether the land was purchased or not, were -res- 
sing onward vvith great eagerness, and were threntcniiU to 
settle the whole country. The policy of Ponn cv.r had 
been to grant no rights to lands, and to permit no settle- 
ments on them, until purchased of the Indians. Sir Wil- 
liam Keith wished to keep off the Marylanders, .-.nd vc't, 
by the usage and laws of the province, was unable to irrant 
rights to Pennsylvanians. To extricate hin,self fron. this 
difficulty, he bethougnt himself of a j.Ian, which in its con- 
sequences has been the source of great trouble to the'l.-mi- 
holders of this county: it was immediately to consult "the 
Indians in the neighborhood of the Susquehanna, and ob- 
the river'* ''''"'^"^ ^° '^'^ "^'^'"S ''^ ^ ^^''^^ survey west of 

wi/l.T^i"5''' Governor Keith consulted or held a treatv 
Tt ]j!! T ^[^""^^''-Soe, on the 15th and 16th of 
June, 1722, when they counselk-d together concernin-. the 

7on.L""r'7 r' ''•' "^^ of Spriligett Penn, thegr'and' 
son, and, as then believed, the heir of William Penn 



inSTORY OF VORK COUNTY. 



^ho r()"owing \< n ropy oftle miiuMos <Tihe co ' 
t'€Jfv be;\v<-«;ii Gi)veiiior Keiili and tlie Indiana: 

Jit a Council held trith the Indians at Cvne.^ 
togoPy on thp \5fh of Ju'fP,^ l"i^22 — present 
&R VVr.LIWl Kr:ri'II,Barl., GoviriK^r, 
Col. .lO'lN FRr.NC.'L 
FIIANCIS V^OKLKY, C^q lire. 
The Cdlejs of the r'oi?v'f>*o3s. S'li-viiis Sf G m 
6'JV//T//. the G inawiif I dl iru and 
,'AMES LE TORT, I tevprcUr. 

The GoveriKM' spoki* «is fallows : 
Fi'ipnds and livothevs I 

Till* belts which I lately i v 
cd from the Five Nations^ >^ii:;nif.y that thrv aw 
one pen;)!.^ witli the En^lisli, mid our vcr kitid 
neiiijhhors and friends. Tiiey invite me t( *. oina 
to them, and I purpose in a short time to ps -^im 
meet them at Albany, and to make t!ie ' ?r 
between us as bright as the sun. When ;* ; ; 
see me, they will remember their i^reat fnind, 
"William Prim: and then our he:irts will ^ - = 
led with love, and our councils with peac 

Friends and Brothers! 

Y<»n -ay yon lov« me becj ^*^ "^ 
come from your father, William Penn, t . 
low his WcJvs, and to fulfil all his kind p .. 
es to the Indims. You call me William r>nrr 
and I am proud of the name you give me. ' n^^ 
if we have a true love for the memory of ^V jI- 
liam Penn, we must shew it to his famil i^nd 
his children, that are grown up to be m u\ 
England, and will soon come over to rep. ^eat 
him here. The last time I was with y<m at 
Conestogoe, you shewed me a parchment v i h 
you had received from William Penn; co 
A 3 



niSTORT OF YORK COUNTV. 



ir^ miiny articles of friendship between him and 
you. and hi^tvveen his children and your chil- 
dreu. Yoa then told me, he desired yon to re- 
meJul^er it well for three i^enerations ; l)ut I hope 
josi and your children wilt never forget it. — 
*'i'hat parcliment fully d clared vuur consent to 
viirMii Penn's purchase and right to the lands 
f:>a liMi sides of the Susquehanna. But I find 
b«»th \oa and we are like to be disturbed by i- 
dle people from Maryland, and also by others 
V. hi) h ive presumed to survey lands on the 
hmks of Susquehanna without any powers from 
Williim Fenn or his children, to wjjom thty 
hebui^ and without so much as askini; your 
couseiit. I am therefore now come toxoid a 
coiiiiwU and consult with you how t(» prevent 
8\uh unjust practices for the future. And here- 
by we will shew our love and respect for the 
i:;rea! William Penn's children, who inherit 
^u^ Tather's estcUe in this country, and iiave a 
ji-*;: r:-ht 10 the hearty love and 'friends!)ip of 
'11 die Indians, promised to them in many trea- 
t I have fully considered this thini^'; and 

?. ' i-pjii-^ a my thoughts, I will immediately 
•' ti) be tnken up a large tract of land on the 
w 1 • V ide of Susquehanna, for the grandson of 
^ "' "ri Penn, who is now a mnn as tall as I 
'n- when the land is marked with his 
}on the trees, it will keep off the Mat-y- 
; .o r , and every other person whatsoever, 
' miin- to s3tlle near you to disturb you/ 
bearing the same kind heart to the In- 
.iich his grandfather did, will be glad 
you any pnrt of his land for your own 
^ ^ouvenieoce,- but if other people taki> 



HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. If, 

M up, they will make settlements upon it, aiiil 
then it will not be in his povvei* to give it you 
as you want it. 

Mif dear Friends and Brothers/ 

Those who have any wisdom a- 
raongst yoiij must see and he convinct-d, 'that 
what 1 tiow s ly is entirely for your good ; fof^ 
this will effectually hinder and prevent any pef-'^ 
son fi-om settling lands on the other side of^ti^-^ ' 
quehanna, according to your desire ; andcWfi-1 
sequently, you will be secure from being >Us« 
iurbed by ill neighI)ors, and will liave alltliislt--' 
land at the same lima in your own powei* to 
make use of. This will also beget a true heai^---' 
ty love and friendship l)etween you. your (^llfl-*^'-^ 
dren, and the gre:it VVilliam Penn's grand^ofi, ' 
who is now lord of all this country in the vnam 
of his grandfather. U h tlirref(ue Hi an?Krf#^; 
^or,oary for you to begin as soon as you ci.mit\y* 
express your respect niu\ love to him. He -fe^- - 
pects it from ^ou according to your promises itf; 
many treaties, and he will take it very kindft,- ■ 

Consider then, my brotliers, that I am ti(Ar 
giving you an op{)ortunity to epeak your tljeTi^fif* ' 
lovingly and freely unto this brave yonng lA^^ 
William Penn's grandson; and I, whom fM^' 
know to be your true friend, will take carS^' ib 
write down your words, and to sen<l them to 
England to this gentleman, who will returnuydiS'- 
a kind answer; and so many liearts will W' 
made glad, to .see that the great William PeAia 
still lives in his children to love and servejig 
Indians. |K^ 

At a council held on the following day, TAWB^A, . 
A chief, replied as follows, in behalf of the Induns- 4«^ - 



20 11 IS'. .KV OF YORK COU.VTV. 

-Thev hive consi(lere<l of wli «t the |;overno** 
pfopos3(l to tliem yesterday, uni] tiiiiiU it a mat4 
ter of very :;r-at ini;)ortaiic3 to them to hinder^ 
the Maryi'incU'is from settlini^oi- 1 ikiiii; ii|) laiuh 
60 near Uhmii uj)on 8ns(|iieliannc.. They very 
much a|)[)r-.ve wliat tlie :;overnor <jpoke, and 
like his couii^rl to them very well ; hut they are 
not wiHiii;:; to discourse |»\rli' 'ilarly on tlie hu- 
siness of land, lest the Five stations may re* 
proach or hlame iheiii. 

They declare ni;.iin their satisfaction \vith all 
the :;overnor suid ye^tertlay to them in council; 
and aUhouii;h they know that the Five Nations 
have not aisy rii^ht to tlieir limds, and that four 
of the towns do not pretend to any, yet the fifth 
town, viz.. the ('ayni;oes, are always claimini; 
some rii^ht to the I uids on the Susquehanna, e- 
yen where tliey themselves now live: wlur.'forc 
they think it will he n very proper time, whi^n 
the ii;overnor ;^oes hi All)any, to settle that mat- 
ter with the Cayui^oes, and then all paities will 
he satisfied. 

They ask the i;overnor ^vhereahouts, and 
wh^-it qiiri tity of land, does he projjnsi* to sur- 
vey fi)r Mr. Penn? it is answere<l, fiom over 
against the nmuth of Con esto:»;oe creek, np to 
the goveriKu's new settlement, and so far l»ack 
from the river, as that no person can come to 
nnnoy or disturl) them in their towns on this 

Tliey proceed and say, that they arc at this 
time very apprehensive that people will come 
wh»»nthe i;o\ernor is gone to Alhany, and sur- 
vejr, this land; wherefore they earnestly desire 
thai the governor will immediately cause the 



HISTORY OF YORK COo..'Ty. 21 

surveyor to come and lay out the land for Wil- 
liam Peiin*s grandson, to secure them : And 
they doubt not but the governor's appearance 
and conduct afterwards at Albany, will make 
all things easy there. 

Having obtained llie consent and approbition, of the 
Indians, the governor delayed not; but on tlie ISiIi of the 
same month, while y it Conestogoe, issued the warrmt for 
the survey under his private seal. On the same day witli 
file issuing of the warrant, he wrote a letter, which he sent 
liv exj)res?-, to the Gentlemen of the council, gving thetii 
infirmatiou of the whole transaction. On the 19lh and 
20th of that month (June 1 7 ]-2j the first survey (»fSj)ring- 
ctfsbury manor* (now called -'Keith's Survey," or "the F'jr- 
V(^y of-iii,'') was in'^.de. On the 23 1, govrrnor Keith ^rote 
a letter to the governor of Marylanfl, giving liim an ac- 
coi\nt of all the proceedings concerning the mnno'r of 
Springettshury, and sending him li!:ewi-?e a ropy of the wiu- 
raiit, survey, &c. : this letter was sent by ex{)ress. 

lS"ot long after the survey, settlements were made und'~;r 
!^iiinsyivania rights : but as the lands were" nfvt fjjiy ptrr- 
clikseJ of the Jndi-ins until 17S6, licences to settle and 
t die tliem up were in the mean time granted by Samuel 
Bluntson,! who had been cum missioned by the proprieta- 
ries, and in some cases too by Thum.is Penn hmiself. 



*Ttie manor receiveJ the name it now bears from its bein^ orig- 
inally laid out for the use of Springett Perm, son of Wiliiani Perfn 
Junior, and grand.^on of the Williain Penn who was first propij- 
fctor of the province. William the/afA:;r died in I7l8, and Wil- 
li.un the son died about 1720 , it was thence siipposed in 1722, when 
the survey was made, that Springett Penn was of right the proprie- 
tor of the province. 

t In order to counteract the Maryland encroachments, it was the 
policy of the proprietory agents, to invite and encourage scttlemcnl:* 
on the borders. Such settlements were ma le wifhin the manor 
of Springfttsbury. There was acontract th;it titles should be made 
to the setttlers whenever the lands should be purchased of the In- 
dians. Certificates or licences were accordingly issued, promisino- 
patents upon the usual terms for which other lands in the county 
were sold. A commission was issued to Samuel Bluntson on the 
11th of January 1733-4, to grant licences to settle and take up 
land OD the west side of the Susquehanna. The first licence i.s 
^uedby Bluntson is dated on 24th January 1733-4 and the last on 



^'~ HISTORY OF YORK COUXTY. 



1 



A warrant to re-survey the manor of Sj)rinaettsbiirv was 
issued on the 21st of May 17G2, by Janus Hamilton; then 
Jieutenant governor of the province. 1 jje re-snrvey how- 
ever on account of the nncc^rtainty of the boundary be- 
tween Pennsylvania and Maryhind was delayed about six 
years. But the line run by Mason & Dixon b('in<r cotnpleied 
inthe year 1769, and the boundary between the iwo provin- 
ces being thereby fir-^t determine.:, Ja.nes T.hrhman, Secre- 
tary of the land otfice, afterwards (on the" 13th of May 
1 76S) wrote to John Lukens, surveyor general, requesting 
him to proceed with all expedition on the re-survey. 
Lulvcns accordingly re-surveyed the manor of S:,ringett£bu- 
ry on Ihe several dnys from the l^th to the 30th of June 
1 /uS. rhis re-survey is known by the name of ^-Hamilton's 
survey" or 'Mhe survey of 'C8." 

Onthb:7thof November 1770, the legislature passed 
an ac^ for vesting the estates of the late proprietaries of 
I ennsylvw.iia in the coujmonwealth. But (here was an ex- 
ception ot all proprietary tenths or manors which had been 
iu.y survived and reliirned into the land office before ihe 
4tli ot July 1776. The consequence was that Springetis- 
hury manor remained the private propertv of the Penns- 
and assuch it has been held, for the most part, down to our 
times. 

Of tho warm and tedious disputes winch have exi'^t- 
ed dur:ng the last twenty five years between the landhold- 
ers.n bpnngettsbury Manor, and the agents of the Penns, 
we speak^not here:— the best account of them is tobefo.in<l 
in tjie books of reports which furnish the lawyer's lil.rarv 
J he disputes, however, may well be likened to the border 
wars connected with the Maryland encroachments on the 
territory of Pennsylvania previous the year 176S. 



3 St Oc tobe mr. All of the numerous licences prior to the Ilfh 

fhpS ' .."'"l ^"^ 'f ' ""''' ^^^''^ ^"''•■''^" purchases; yet 

hese grant, though at first rather irregular, were of Hsht 
tobeconfinne. by the proprietors as soon as the lands were pur- 
chased of the Naoves. The early se.tlement in York county corn- 
ed unto oV'^daJs' '"' ''' '^'''' of those quarrels have de'scenS- 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 2S 

CHAPTER HI. 
EARL.Y SETTL.EMENTS. 

KREUTZ CREEK, &c. 

The first settlements in this county were made on Kreutz 
creek* and in the neighborhood where Hanover new stands. 
Before the erection of the county of Lancaster in 1729, a 
number of persons resided on tracts of land lying on the 
west side of the Susquehanna, within the bounds of what 
is now York county. These persons, however, remained 
but a short time on the lands -they cccupied — were not al- 
lowed time to warm in the nests on which they had squat" 
ted — and may not be looked upon as the progenitors of the 
present possessors of the soil of York county. They were 
known only as '"Maryland intruders," and were removed 
in the latter end of the year 1728, by order of the deputy 
governor and council, at the request of the Indians, and in 
conformity with their existing treaties, 

In the spring of 1729, John and James Hendricks, under 
the authority of government, made tlie first authorized set- 
t'.'^n^pnts in what is now called York county. They oc- 
cupied the ground from which some families oi squatttrs 
had been removed, somewhere about the bank of Kreutz 
creek. They were soon followed by other families, who 
settled at a distance of about ten or twelve miles west and 
sauth west of them. 

Sometime in the year 1732, Thomas Cressap came from 
Maryland, and forcibly seized and settled on the lands from 
which the before mentioned squatters had been removed. 
With him originated the violent measures, sometimes issu- 
ing in murderous affrays, which attended the disputes be- 
tween the proprietaries of Pennsylvania and Maryland, res- 

* J\rote — Some persons say that the proper name of this creek is 
Kieis' creek, from an early settler near its mouth, whose name 
was George Kreis. But others, with greater appearance of truth, 
say that the common name is the correct one. It is called Kreutz 
creek, not from a man of the same name as some assert ; but on ac- 
count of the union of two streams, and thereby the formation of 
what the Germans call a Kreutz, (i. e. a cross.) In the return of a 
survey made in 1722, it is called the " White oaJr branch.'* It had 
however, no certain name until about the year 1736, when numer^ 
pus German settlements were made on its banks. 



24 HISTORY OF \ORK COUMY. 

peeling the proper boundary of the two provinces. On the 
24th of November 173G, thisrestlcs and quarrelsome indiv- 
idual was apprehended by the Sherift' of Lancacter county, 
and committed to prison on the warrant of the two provin- 
cial judges. — Thereupon the President of the province cal- 
led the council and assembly, who detailed the facts con- 
nected with the outrage committed, and referred the matter-, 
in a memorial to the King; which led ultimately to an am- 
icable adjustment of the disputes concerning the boundary. 
At that period, it is believed, there were between three and 
four bundled inhabitants within the present limits of this 
county. 

The earliest settlers were English — these were, however, 
soon suceeded by vast numbers of German emigrants. 
Jt is a remarkable fact, that, when the first settlements 
were made in this county, the greater portion of the lands in 
the eastern and southeastern part of it were destitute of large 
timber — in sections where now the finest forests oflarge tim- 
ber stand, miles might then have been traversed without 
the discovery of any vegetable production of greater magni- 
tude than scrub-oak; and in many places even that dimin- 
utive representative of the mighty monarch of the forest was 
not to be found. This nakedness of the country was g'^n-^ 
erally, and we have no doubt, correctly, attributed to a cus- 
tom which prevailed among the aboriginal owners of the 
soil, of aiiually or biennially destroying by fire all vegeta- 
tion in particular sections of country for the purpose of in- 
creasing the facilities of huntings 

Most of the German Emigrants settled in the neighbor- 
hood of Kreutz-Creek, while the English located them- 
selves in the neighborhood of the Pioeon Hills. In the 
whole of what was called the "Kreutz Creek Settlement,'' 
(if we except Wrightsville,) there was but one English fam- 
ily, that of William Morgan. 

The early inhabitants of the Kreutz creek region were 
clothed, for some years, altogether in tow cloth, as wool 
was on article not to be obtained. Their dress was sim- 
ple, consisting of a shirt, trowsers, and a frock. During 
the heat of summer, a shirt and trowsers of tow formed the 
only raiment of the inhabitants. In the fall, the tow frock 
was superadded. When the cold of winter was before the 
floor, and Boreas came rushing from the north, th© dresg 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 25 

was adapted (o the season bj increasing the number of 
frocks, so that in the coldest part of the winter some of the 
sturdy settlers were wrapt in four, five and ev.en more 
Irocks, which were bound closely about their loins, usually 
with a string of the same materia! as the garments. 

But man ever progresses; and when sheep were intro- 
ducea, a mixture of tow and wool was considered an ar- 
tide of luxury. But tow was shortly afterward succeeded 
by cotton, and then linsey looohey was a piece of the wild- 
est extravagance. If these simple, plain and honest wor- 
ries could look down upon their descendants of the 
present day, they would wonder and weep at the chancr- 
es of men and things. ]f a party of them could be spe?- 
tators at a ball of these times, in the borough of York 
and see silks and crepes, and jewels, and gold, in lieu 
ot tow trocks and linsey woolsev finerv,they would scarcely 
recognize their descendants in the costly and splendid 
dresses before them; but would no doubt be ready to imag- 
ine that the nobles and princes of the earth were assern- 
bled at a royal bridal. But these honest progenitors of 
ours have passed away, and have left many of us, we fear 
nothing but the names they bore, to mark us their descen- 
uants. 

But all of good did not die with them. If they would 
iind cause of regret at our departure from their simplici- 
ty and frugality, they would find much to admire in the 
improved aspect of the country—the rapid march of im- 
provement in the soil of their adoption. Where thev 
left unoccupied land, they would find valuable planta- 
tions and thriving villages, and temples dedicated to the 
worship of the God of christians. Where they left a 
field covered with brush wood, thev would find afiour. 
ishing and populous town. The Codorus. whose power 
was scantily used to propel a ^e\^f inconsiderable mills 
they would see with its banks lined with large and val- 
uable grist mills, saw mills and fulling mills—thev would 
iind the power of its water used in the man ufactorV of pa- 
per and wire-and they would find immense arks'of lum- 
ber and coal floating on its bosom from the Susquehan- 
na to the very doors cf the citizens of a town whoso 
existence conimenced after their departure from toil and 
from th^ earth, ■ ** 

B 



2G HISTORY or YORK COUNTY. 

But, to return to tlie situation of the early settlers — 
For some time after these early seltlemtnts were made 
there was neither a shoemaker nor tanner in any part of 
what is now York county. A supply cf shoes for fcmily 
use was annually obtained from Philadelphia; itinerant 
cobblers, travelling from one farm honse to another, earned 
a livelihood by mending shoes. These cobblers cr.rried 
with them such a quantity cf leather, as they thought 
would be wanted in the district of their temporary visit. 
The first settled and established shoemaker in the county, 
was Samuel Landys, who had his shopsome where on Kreutz 
creek. The first, and for a long time the only tailor, was 
Valentine Heyer, who made clcathes for men and women. 
The first blacksn)ith was Peter Gardner. The first school- 
master was known by no other name than that of *'Der 
Dicke Schulmeister." 

The first dwelling houses of the earliest settlers were of 
wood ; and for some years no other material was used in 
the construction. But about the year 1735, John and 
Martin Shultz each built a stone dwelling hcuse on Kreutz 
creek and in a few years the example Wiis numerously fol- 
lowed. 

Of the settlements in the neighborhood cf the Pigeon 
Bills, we shall speak moie particularly when we come ta 
that part of our history embracing the borough of Han^ 
over. 

SETTLEMENT OF 'THE BARRENS." 

For several years after the settlements were made in tlie 
neighborhood of the Pigeon Hills and on Kreutz creek, 

e inhabitants of those regions were the only whites in the 

unty. But about the year 1734 '35 and '36, a number of 
families from Ireland and Scotland settled in the south east- 
ern part of the county, in what is now known as the "ForJt 
jBan'ens." These families consisted principally of the bet- 
ter order of peasantry — were a sober, industrious moral and 
intelligent people — and were for the mOEt part rigid pres- 
byterians. Their manners partook of that simplicity, 
kindness and hospitality which is so characteristic of the 
class to which they belonged in their native countries. 

The descendants of these people still retain the lan(3sL 



History of york county. $7 

^nich their respectable progenitors chose upon their arri- 
val in York county. And we are happy to add, that the 
present inhabitants of the inappropriately named "Barrens" 
inherited, with the lands of their forefathers, the sobriety, 
industry, intelligence, morality and hospitible kindness of 
their predecessors. 

The townships comprised in the "Barrens," are Chance- 
ford, Fawn, Peachbottom, Hopewell and part of Windsor, 
and from the improvements which have of late years, been 
rmde in the agriculture of these townships, the soil is begin- 
ning to present an appearance which is entirely at variance 
with the idea a stranger wouli be induced to form of a 
section of country bearing the unpromising name of "Bar- 
re ns. ^' 

Before the commencement of the improvements iii 
firming recently introduced, the mode of tilling which 
generally prevailed was ruinous. Having abundance of 
woodland, the practice was to clear a field every season. 
Wheat was uniformly the first crop, of which the yield 
was from IS to 20 bushels per acre. The second crop was 
rye, then corn, then oats. After going through this course, 
it was left for a year or two, and then the course began 
again; this was continued until the soil would produce 
nothing. But most of the farmers have, as we have said, 
much ameliorated the condition of their lands, by the a- 
doption of a better system of culture. 

Having introJuced the first settlers of the ^-Barrens," W3 
shidl defer further remark upon this section of country — 
while we return to "olden time," and look after the early 
settlers of other parts of the county. We have now sett- 
led the eastern, south-eastern and south western part of the 
county, and leave the settlers "hard at it," while we tak^ a 
view of the north and north west. 

SETTLEMENT OF NE^VBERRY AND THE ADJOI- 
NING TOWNSHIPS. 
About the same time that the "Barrens" were settled 
by Irish and Scottish emigrants, Newberry township and 
the circumjacent region was settled by a number of 
families from Chester county, who, under the auspicious 
influence of that spirit of peace and amity which had been 
«pread abroad, by the \vise and excellent proprietary of 



-^ HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 



Pennsylvania, sate themselves down here and there in a 
tew rudely constructed cabins, surrounded on all sides byl 
ZJ %r'^ 'I'i'^.^'oV'^^^"'' their aboriginal nei^i-f 
bors. Thomas Hall, John McFesson, Joseph Bennet 
John Ran .n and Ellis Lewis were the iir.t persons to t' 
t Uus section of the county ; and having selected the val- 
i7v"!/H ' "'' borough of Lewishcrry is situated, thev 
gave ,t the name of the -Red Lands,-from the color of 
the so. and -red rock" on which it is based. My thi 
mZ2\ """' P^'^^iP^^'lj known to them and th.eir 'eastern 
fiiends for many years, it was by a descendant of Eilis 

tTV^'''h'''''''r^'''' J^-' out-audit is from Jo- 
seph Bennet that the mam stream which winds its devi.us 
way^through the valley, derives its name of '.Bennet'^ 

An anecdote is related of Bennet, Rankin and Lewis 
connected with their first visit to the -'Redlands " Hav' 
mg arrived at the eastern bank of the Susquehanna river! 
and there being no other kind of craft than canoes to cross 
in, they lastened two together, and placing their horses 
with their hinder feet in one and their fore feet in the other 
tlms paddled to the shore, at the eminent peril of their 

This section of the country, naturallv productive, had 
suffered a material deterioration of qualitv. and was in- 
deed almost "worn out," by a hard syst'em of tillao-e 
when the introduction of clover and plaster in the year isoo' 
established a new era in the husbandry of the neiohl)orhoo((' 
and gradually produced a considerable melioradon of the 
soil. At present the spirit of ^^llming'' is gaining "-round 
rapidly in Ne.wberry and the adjoining townshlp^s, and 
premises very lairly to eitect a material increase of pro- 
ductiveness. ^ 

There is also a great change of system in the husbandry 
of this section which is doing much for the land. Former- 
ly the farmer depended mainly upon keeping a /are-f s^ocA-, 
and enriching his land by the manure which he would 
thus be enabled to make, at the expense of all the hay and 
grass on thcjarm. At present he' keeps a comparatively 
small stock except where there are extensive meadows. 
ana depends more upon ploughing down a clover lay and 
Umiiig. It IS to be remarked also' that his quantity of ma • 



HISTORY OF YORS COUNTY. 2:& 

'iiare IS not lessened by this curtailment of the stock of 
his farmj but with care may in fact thus be increased^ and 
his bind greatly benefitted/ For instead of putting all his 
hay and straw into them, he turns some under with the 
plough, leaves some to shade the ground, and saves a 
goodly portion to put under them. 

We have now fairly settled those parts of the county 
which were the first to be inhabited by whites. Those 
parts of which we have made no mention in noticing the 
early settlements, were not in fact taken up by emigrants 
to York county; but became populated from the stock 
which we haveintroclaced to our readers. In the course 
of time the Kreutz creek settlement increased in popula- 
tion, and gave inhabitants to a large tract of country sur- 
rounding it, including parts of Hellam, Springgarden, York 
and Shrewsbury townships. The few early settlers of 
the region in which Hanover stands gave population to 
several townships in that quarter of the county, The 
number of families in the "Redlands*' and thereabout was 
for some time annually augmented by fresh emigrants from 
Chester county — the small portion of territory at first cho- 
sen became too small for the increased population, and 
ihe whole northern division of the county, comprising New- 
berry, Fairview, Monahan, Warrington, Franklin and 
Washington townships, were partially settled as early as 
17-40— -50. 

A considerable portion of the inhabitants of the town- 
ships we have just named, are members of the society of 
friends. There are also methodists, lutherans, and re- 
formed presbyterians. 



CHAPTER IV. 

ERECTIOX OF THE COUNTIT. 

The lands within the present limits of the county of York 
were a part of Chester county from the commencement of 

B2 



^® HISTORY OF YORK COUxVTY. 

the provincial government until the 19th of iVJav, 1V29 
xvhentheybecamepaitof a then newly erected coiinty caU' 
ed Lancaster. As at that time there were but few inhabi- 
tants in what IS now York county, little or no inconveni- 
ence was experienced from being at a distance from the 
courts of justice or from the public offices. But when the 
popu ation had become more dense, and wealtli had increas- 
fnh K-r"^"^? the subject of no small complaint among the 
nhab.tants of these parts, that they were obliged to cross 
the teusquehanna, and visit the borough of Lancaster, or 
else remain without the means of defending their riahts or 
ot redressing their grievances. At last they acquainted the 
governor and assembly with the great hardships to which 
hey were subjected. They represented ''how difficult it 
was lo secure themselves against thefts and abuses, frequent- 
y committed amongst them by idle and dissolule persons 
who resorted to the remote parts of the province, and, by 
reason of the great distance from the court or prison, fre- 
qnently found means of making their escape." In com- 
pliance with the earnest petitions of the inhabitants, and 
to remedy the above mentioned inconveniences, the gover- 
nor with the general assembly on the 19th of August 1749, 
made a division of Lancaster county, the western part of 
Which they erected into the county of York. York was 
the farst county erected west of the Susquehanna. 

^orth and West by a line running from the river Susque! 
hctnna along the ridge of the South Mountain, until it in- 

by the Maryland hne, and on tiie East by the Sasquehan- 
«ndi/\ r'r^''. Cumberland county was erected: 
and the boundary line between that and York countv was 

tt^'i '"^ '^'' ""'"'^ ''^^'^ '^' ^'^^'^ Breeches; fJn 
Its mouth where It empties into the Susquehanna, up the 
several courses of it to the mouth of a rui of water called 
IJogwood run, and thence one continued straiaht line to 
of'tl r luM S^"^^^^^°^^»tain, and thence alongthen^ge 
of the South Mountain until it intersects the Maryland hne. 

a d^isTon """' """""^^ '""^^ ^^'^^"^^ -^ ""^^'•g'^ 

The controversy between the inhabitants of the westera 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. Si 

and those of the eastern parts of tJie county concerning a di- 
vision, commenced early, and was continued with warrnih. 
Many essays were written, meetings held and petitions pre- 
sented. Tiie disputes however were at last settled, on 
the 22d of January 1800, wlien the western part of York 
was erected into a new county, thenceforth called Adams. 
That tract of land which was taken from the county of 
York, to he erected into anew county, is contained with- 
in the following lines, as made at the time, viz: '•Beginning 
in the line of Cumberland county where the road from 
Carlisle to Baltimore leads through TrenVs Gap; thence 
alono- the said road to Binder'^s; thence a straght line 
to Conewago creek opposite to the mouth of MhoVs 
run; thence along the line of Berwick and Paradise 
townships, until it strikes the line of Manheim township ; 
thence along the line of Manheim and Berwick westward- 
ly, until it strikes the road leading from Oxford to Han- 
over-town; and from thence a due south course until it 
strikes the Marijland line; thence along the Maryland 
line to the line of Franklin county; thence along the 
line o( Franklin and Cumberland counties to the place 
of beginning." The governor on the 2d of October 1800, 
appointed three commissioners to run and mark the di- 
viding line between the two counties; the commissioners 
were Jacob Spangler^ deputy surveyor of York county, Sam- 
uel Sloan, Deputy surveyor of Adams county, and Mr, 
William Waugh. 

TOWNSHIPS. 

The following townships were laid out and erected 
while York was a part of Lancaster county, that is be- 
fore the year 1749, — Hellam, Chanceford, Fawn, Shrews- 
bury, Codorus, Manchester, Newberry, Dover, Warring- 
ton, Monahan, Paradise, Manheim, Heidelberg, Hunting, 
don, Reading, Tyrone, Strabane, Menallen, Cumberland, 
Hamilton's Ban, Mount-joy, Germany, Mount-pleasant, 
and Berwick; a part of which townships are now within 
the limits of Adams county. 

Those erected since 1749, have been York in 1753, 
Windsor in 1759, Hopewell in 1768, West Manchester 
in 1800, Washington in 1803, Fairview in 1803, Lower 
Chanceford in 1807, Franklin ia 1809, Peachbottooi m 



32 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

1817, Conewago in 1818, Springgarden in 18'22, Carroll 
in 1831. 



CHAPTER V. 
YORK TOWX. 

What is now the borough of York was by no means the 
earliest settlement of our county. Although there wore 
many habitations in its neighborhood, yet so late as the 
year 1740 there was not one building within the present 
limits of the borough of York. The "queen of wilderness ' 
then held "her solitary throne" where now the *'city full" 
15 cheered with every thing that art and industry can render 
lovely or attractive. 

The "tract of land on both si<les of Codorus Creek," with- 
in the manor of Springettsbury, upon which the town of 
York was to be laid out and built, was, by the special order 
and direction of the proprietaries, gurvcyed by Thomas 
Oookson, then deputy Surveyor of Lancaster county, in the 
month of October, 1741. The part east of Codorus, was 
jmmediately laid out into squares, after the manner ol" 
Philadelphia. For doing this the following instructions 
were originally given. "The squares to be 480 feet wide, 
3^0 long; lots 230 by 65 ; alleys ^0 ; two streets 80 feet wide, 
to cross each other, and 65 feet square to be cut off the 
corner of each lot to make a square for any public building 
or market of 1 10 feet each side: the lots to be let at 7 shil- 
lings sterling, or value in coin current according to the ex- 
change; the squares to be laid out the length of two squares to 
the eastward of Codorus when any number such as 20 hous- 
es are built." On the margin of the original draught of 
the town as then laid out, are these words, "the above 
squares count in each 480 f-eet, on every side, which in lota 
of 60 feet front, and 240 feet deep, will make 16 lots; which 
multiplied by the number of squares, (viz. 16, for the origin- 
al draught contains no more) gives 256 lots ; which togetl^- 



History of york county. SS 

er with the streets, at 60 feet wide, will not take up above 
102 acres of land." 

After the town had been thus laid out, if any one wished 
for a lot therein he applied at the proper office, or in the 
words of his certificate he "entered his name for a lot in the 
town of York, in the county of Lancaster, No." &c 

The first application or entry of names for lots in York 
town was in November 1741. In that month 23 lots were 
taken up, and no more were taken up until the lOtli and 1 1 th 
of March 1746, when 44 lots were disposed of. In 1748, 
and the two years following, many applications were made, 
for York had then become a county town. The names of 
the persons who first applied for and took up lots in York, 
;Nov, 1741,) arc: as follows, viz. John Bishop, No. 57, Ja- 
cob Welsch, 58, Biltzer Spengler,No. 70, Michael S\voope, 
No. 75, Christopher Croll, No. 85, Michael Laub, No. 86, 
George Swoope, No. 87, 104, 124, & 140, Zachariah Shu- 
gart. No. 92, Nicholas Stuke, No. 101, Arnold Stuke, No. 
102, Samuel Hoake, No. 105, Hermanns Botr^ No. 106, 
George Hoake, No. 107 and 117, Jacob Crebill, No. 108, 
Matthias Onvensant, No. 1 18, Martin Eichelberger, No. 
120, Andrew Coalei, No. 121, Henry Hendricks, No. 122- 
and Joseph Hinsman, No. 123. 

The manner of proceeding to obtain a lot was this: the 
person wishing for one, applied for and requested the pro- 
prietors, to permit him to "take up a lot." They then receiv- 
ed a certificate of having made such application; the lot 
was then surveyed for him. 

The paper given to the applicant certifying that he hid 
entered his name and mentioning the conditions was then 
usually called ''a /ic/ce,^," or else the particular applicant 
was named, as ^^ George Swoope''s ticket.'^'' Tliese tickets 
were transferable ; the owner of them might sell them, as- 
sign them, or do what he pleased with them. The posses- 
sion of a ticket was by no means the same as owning a lot. 
It only gave a right to build, to obtain a patent; for the 
lots were granted upon particular conditions strenuously 
enforced. 

One of the usual conditions was this, viz. "that the ap- 
plicant build upon the lot, at his own proper cost, one sub- 
stantial dwelling-house, of the dimensions of sixteen feet 
square at least, with a good chimney of brick or stone, to 



ii HISTORY OF YORK COUN'TY. 



belaid in or b'lilt with lime and sand, within the space o( 
one year from the tiine of his entry for the same." A con- 
tinual rent was to be p.iid to the propricjtors, Thouias Pena 
and Richard Penn, for every Jot tiken up. This was a 
*-yearly rent of seven shilling>', sterlin;^ money of Great 
Britain, or the value thereof in coin current, according as 
the exchange should be between the province and the city 
of London." Beside this, the lot wis held "in free and 
comnon sojcige, by fealty only in lieu of all other servi- 
ces." 

When the applicant had built or in some cases had uc- 
g in to build, he received if he so wished, a patent. B it this 
patent most explicitly stated the conditions; and if these 
conditions were not fulfilled, he was dep.-ived of his lot, and 
it was granted to soin^; one else. 

The building 6f York town proceeded but slowly: for 
though mmy took up lots, yet few were enabled fully to 
comply with the conditions; the consequence was, the 
lots were forfeited, and thereby honest industry discoura- 
ged. And indeed the fear of not b.nng able to accoinplisli, 
in so short a period, wiiat they wisiiud to co:n:iience, deter- 
red many from beginning what might end in folly. It 
should be remembered that at that time, the conveniences 
for house-building were few. It appears from a statement 
inide by George Stevenson on 10th April, 1751, th.it at 
that time there were fifty lols built on, agreeably to the tick- 
ets. Three of these lois wore tliiii o ^copied by c'lurclies, 
viz. two by the German Lutheran, and one by the German 
Ueformed. Hence there could not have been at that time 
more than forty seven dwelling-lDuses in the town of York, 
and many of them must hive been truly miserable. 

At about this period, York must have been a most desert 
place, very unlike what she now is in the "splendour of her 
domes" and the "Tichness of her profusion." In an ol<l re- 
cord it is alleged as a heavy offence against George Iloak 
that ''Within the very limits of York, he had cut down tlie 
proprietaries' timber in large quantities for burning brick 
and lime." In a letter written in 1750, it is said that --sun- 
dry persons have cut off the wood of the town land to burn 
brick, and are now burning brick on lots not granted, to the 
damage of the inhabitants, who ought to have the wood fot 



BISTORT OF yOEK COVtlTY. S5 

Bring, and of the purchasers of the «ngranted lot?, which 

are spoiled by clay holes." . ,, .„j 

In the first seltlement of York many inconTeniences and 
ditficnlties arose frcm persons taking possession of lots «ith. 
out having in the first place, secured a legal t. le. Some e- 
rectf d small houses on diflferent lots ««iih«ut licence or en- 
try;" but for this they were reported to the governcr and 
«e e obliged to leavi their tabernacles. Of th>s many in- 
stances are found recorded in "U ^^pe,^ ^''"'I'^^No 
Bilhnayer built on let No. 55, Jacob Falkler on lo No. 
60. and Avit Shall en let No. 74, "without the prop"e a- 
rie' licence." Each of them was obliged to delner up 
possession : and this they did t-n ICth April 1751, "tcN.ch, 
olas Scull Esq. agent for the honourable propneta- 

"^The early settling of York town was one continual scene 
of disturbance nrd contention; there ^■^'%«f";''|.i'S*''t 
and clashing interests. It often hapFencd that diffeier^ 
men wanted the same lot; and when the lot was granted to 
«re, the ethers were watchful lo bring about a forfeiture, 
The loss of lets by net fulfilling condifcns was for a long 
time a serious evil, concerning which clrmours wereleud 

We will here insert a letter ."ated at Lancaster, the 24tt. 
April. 1750, and addressed by Thcmas Cocksen, "to Geo. 
Stevenson Esq. at York." 

""'christian Oyster in his life time entered for a !c« 
in York, No. 82. The time for building expired, but no 
i^ew enl y was made till lately, as I understood with you. 
The widow is since married ; and her husband has put up 
Jogs for a house en the lot. He told me that he applied tx, 
you, and acquainted you with his intentions of building, 
'and that vcuhad promised him that no advantage should be 
taken of [he forfeiture of the let, and that he might proceed 
,o build, and that since, through neglect, you have suffered 
another person to enter for that 1°*' « ''"'"^f = ?" V! ha 
to it, notwithstanding the building erected on it. I find that 
taking advantage of The forfeiture of lots is a greatspurto the 
peopfe's buUding. But where there is an intent and pre- 
paration for building, 1 would not be too strict n.isist- 
Lg on the forfeiture, as the sole intent .3 to have he tow« 
improved; and if the first lakers t:p of lots will build mi 



^6 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

settle, their priority of application should be favoied A 
iew examples uili be necessary to be made : and they 
s/iould be made of such persons as take up Jots for 
sale without improvement. There are some others here 
about their forfeited lots. But I am ^^d\ satisfied that 
you ^v.ll do cjcry thing that is reasonable and equitable to 
the people, and for the advancement of the proprietor's in- 
terest Our couit being so near, I could not spare time to 
my'ToLTs" " '' ''' "" '"^" " '''''' Wwardness 
I am your most Jiumble servt. 

T . . ., Tho. Cookso.n% j 

Lancaster, April 24, 1750." f 

.K y^^/«^^,^.^^^"g, letter is of a much later date, and shoNvs 
that difficulties still continued. It is dated at York, the 8th 
June 1 764, and is addressed hy George Stevenson to William 
Peters, Secretary of the land office. 

"Yesterday at 6 o'clock P. M. Mr. Heme] and myself 
met the two Doudels together, with sundry other inhabit'arits 
of the place to try to settle the difference between them a- 
bout the lots lately granted to Michael, on west side ofCo- 
dorus creek, and south side of High Street continued \r. 
ter many things said on both sides, Michael proposed to 
bind himself by any reasonable instrument of writing not 
to build a tan-yard on the said lots for the space of five 
ULX""' '' ^^"^^5 ^vhich I thought was reasonable. 
But nothing would satisfy Jacob but the lots; and he offbred 
to give Michael the two opposite lots on the other side Hieh 
street, and to plough them and fence them, (for Michael 
has ploughed and fenced his.) This off^er gave great of- 
fence to all the company, "what, said they, is no body to 
have a lot but the two Doudels?" For my own part, I do ac- 
knowledge they are industrious men, and deserve a lot as 
irell as their neighbors; but at the same time there are other 
people who have paid dear for lots here, and have improved 
them well, and deserve lots as well as they. Sundry per- 
sons are building on the proprietors' lots on the east side 
ctthe creek, saying they deserve and want Jots as well as 
tlie Doudels. 1 think an immediate stop ought to be put 
to this ; otherwise it will be productive ofgreat trouble to 
;ou. 1 make free to write this accoupt of these things to 



DISTORT OF YORK COUNTY. S7 

put yon upon your guard, and beg leave to advise you not 
to grant any other lots, until I see yon, wh'uh will be in a- 
bout two weeks. In ihe mefin time, Itball lay out the par- 
eon's lot for his pasture, nnd shall bring duwn an exact 
draught of it and of all the low bottom lands. Pray let 
me hear from you about these people that will build, and 
have built. Fas aut nefas, I am &c." 

It is said tliat Thomas Cookson who surveyed the York 
town lands in 1741, never returned the survey into ofFice. 
To supply this deficiency Gc( rge Stevenson re-surveyed 
them in December 1742 when he found them to contain 
436 acres and a half. The ^'tract of land situate on both 
sides of Codorus creek, whereon the town of York stands" 
was ag;.in surveyed in July 1768. John Lukens wlio m?.de 
the survey, found the tract to centain '-the quantity of 421 
acres and 37 perches, with allowance of six ptr cent, for 
roads and high-ways, or 446 acres and a half, neat mea- 
sure."" 

York town was not incorporated during the first forty six 
years after it was laid out. On the 24th of September 
1787, it was erected into "the Borough of York." Tln> first 
burgesses were [Jenry Miller J>q. and David Cantler, where- 
of the former was chief buigess. The fust asfi.^tant bur- 
gesses were Baltzer Spengler, Michael Doudel, Christian 
Lauman, Peter Mundorf, David Grier E?q. and Jarnes Smith 
Esq. The first high-constable was Christian Stoer, and 
the first town clerk was George Lewis Leoffler. 

The population of the town ofYoik, in 1700, was 2076, 
in 1800, as taken by John Edie was 2,5C'S, in 1820, astuken 
by Penrose Fiobinson, was S, 545, and in 1830, 4772. 

' About the year 1814 a considerable addition, (but with- 
in the limits of the borough) was made to the tov^'n of 
York. The heirs of John Hay deceased, owning 60 acres 
and some perches in the northern part of the borough, laid 
the same out into lots after the manner of the rest of the 
town, extendmg the streets and alleys north through the 
tract and laying out an entirely new street (called "Water 
street,'^ the second of the same name) running nearly east 
and west. The lots were sold by the heirs to the highest 
bidders, and the amount of the sum received therefor was 
S5,000 dollars. Those lots, now partly built upon^ sre 
known by the name of "Hay's Addition." 

c 



$8 HISTORT OP YORK COUNTF. 

The numl^cr of houses in the borough ol York in Apri!, 
1761, was 47— in 1780, 290— in 1820, 548— in 1826, 
567 — and at tlie present time more than 600. 

Jn October, 1780, there were 43 slaves for life io York 
town. 

At present (here are in York 
9 ministers of the gospel, 
1 9 attorneys at law, 
17 physicians, 

17 (eaclicts (»f schools, (exclusive of those in the theolog- 
ical and clHssical institutions.) 
5 wagon-makers, 
23 joiners and carpenters, 

5 vvheclurights, 
12 saddlers, 

16 tailors, 

11 blacksmitli-?, 
40 cordwaincrsj 

4 dyers, 
4 gunsmiths, 
20 butchers, 
1 filverplatcr, 

4 bi ewers, 
10 masons, 

6 uatch and clock makersi 

8 tanners, 

25 tavern keepers," 

9 coppersmiths St tinners^ 

7 tobacconists, 

5 chair makers, 
1 bo(»k binder, 

3 book-sellers, 
5 weavers, 

1 cutler, 

15 storekeepers (exclusive of small shopkeepers in vari- 
ous parts of the town.) 

1 2 coopers, 

4 locksraitlis, 

13 hatters, 
1 <iistiller, 

1 brass founder, 
1 iron founder, 



filSTORY OP YOHK COUXTY. »» 

6 printers, 
2 pump makers, 
2 bakers, 
I engraver, 
1 machinist, 
4 surveyors, 
18 lumber merchants, 

1 coai merchant, 
4 coach makers, 

4 confectioners, 

2 sicklesmiths, 

6 apotliecaries, 
13 magistrates, 

8 plasterers, 

7 house &L sign painters, 
1 auger maker, 

10 cabinet makers, 

5 soap & candle manufacturers, 
a barbers, 

1 basket maker. 

The public buildings in the Borough of York are the 
following: 

A Courthouse in the Centre Square, with Res^ister's an<] 
Prothonotary's offices adjoining. (JYote. — In this ancient 
Courthouse it was that Congress sat while in York.) 

A commodious market house in the same square. 

A German Reformed Church on Main, between George 
and Beaver streets. 

A Lutheran Church in South George street. 

Si John^s Episcopal Church in North Biiver street, 

A Methodist Episcopal Church in Newberry street. 

A Presbyterian Church near the extreme eastern end of 
Main street. 

A Moravian Church in Princess street. 

A Roman Catholic Churcli in Souih Beaver street. 

A Jail in South George street. 

An African Church in North Duke street. 

An Academy in North Beaver street, and a TheologicaJ 
Seminary in Main street, west of the bridge. (Note, — A 
particular account of each of these institutions will be 
found in another part of tliis volume.) 

A few pages back we gave a list of the names of those 



40 histohy of york county. 

who first "took up" lots in the borough. We think it may 
not be uninteresting to s!io\v what parts of the town were 
first chosen by the early settlers in it. 

The first lot taken up in York town was that on which 
the cavrrn stands, now owned by John Hirtman and occu- 
pietl by Daniel Eichelberger. 

Then the adjoining lot toward the Courthouse, was taken 
up. 

The nextlots were Ihat on whicii Nes' Brewery stands, 
in North George street, and another east of it, the latter 
of which is still vacant. 

Then a lot nearly opposite the German Reformed church, 
and the two lots adjoining iton the west. 

Then were chosen at about ihe same time, the lot on 
which Isaac Bauingardner's dwelling house stands; that oc- 
cupied by the housa of John Lny» on the cortier of Mam 
and Water streets; that occupied by the house of Doll, 
gunsmith; those l;y Jud^-e Barnitz, Charles Ihy'a store, the 
York Bank, Willimn Siyre?, and the house on the S. Vi . 
corner of Main and Beaver streets, belonging to ihe cataK? 
ipf David Cassat, Esq. deceased. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CONGREG.VTIOX 
IN YOHK. 

The first settlements made by Germans west of the 
Susquehann-^. were undoubtedly at Kreutz Creek and in 
the region where H mover now stmds — the circuit of the 
York congregi:tiou was inhabited by white men somewhat 
later. At fii>t the inh;ibiti.iits of thfi whole region from ten 
to fifteen milfs around York composed hut one congr<'ga- 
tion ; they now worship the God of their futliers in lifteen 
difterent churches. 

So early as the year 1733, fo.ir and twenty heads of fam- 
ilies, who, for the most part had emigrated from Wuertem* 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 4! 

1i)erg, came here together, and, joining themselves in one 
fraternal band, formed an evangelical Luther<in congregation. 
They purchased a baptismal book, which is still in the pos- 
session of the congregation, and therein they recorded their 
names as members to this new association, for the eternail 
remembrnnce of tlieir posterity. 

Among these venerable twenty four founders of the con- 
gregation, all of whom have long since mouldered in thfe 
grave, we find many, whose descendants at the present 
day may be traced by their names. Such are Cliristiain 
Grol!, Philip Ziegler, Heinrich Shultz, George Schwaab, 
John Adam Diehl, Jacob Sherer, Mathias Schmeiser, George 
Schmeiser, Maitm Bauer, George Adam Zimmermari. 
George Ziegler, Joseph Beyer, Jacob Zieglor, Valentine 
Schuitz, &c. &c. Other names, less familiar at the present 
day, are Michael Walch, Carl Eisen, Paul Burkhardt, Hen 
rich Z:iuck, Gftfrled Manch, Christian Kraut, &.c. &c. 

The fir.-t Bijti.sin in the Lutheran church, and conse- 
quently in York county, was of two children on the 23d of 
September, 1733. 

From the year 1733, onward, the congregation was visit- 
ed by different teachers whose hearts were devoted ta the 
faidiful service of thuir heavenly master. Among these may 
be mentioned the Rev. Mr. Candler, Dr. II. M. Muhlenburg, 
Rev. Friedrich Handshuh, and Rev. Mr. Brunnholtz. lui 
its early days, tliis congregation was poor* and held divinr? 
service but here and there in private houses. 

In the year 1744, the first church was built in York^ and 
the mat:^ria] useJ in it-; con.-truction was wood. Soon after 
the comphtion of the building, the congregation called the 
Rev. Mr. Schaum t > be their stttled preacher. Mr. Schaum 
served thecongrrg tion but a few years, and was succeeded; 
by the Rev. Mfssis. Hochheimer, Bager and Raus,inthe or 
der in which their names are here mentioned. 

As in the time of the Rev. Mr. Raus the congregation had 
increased to a uuniHious mult tude, the old wooden church 
was much too smill for convenience, it was determined to 
build a new church ; and in July, I 760, the corner stone of 
a building, 67 l)y 49 fett, was laid. The m-it?rial of this 
building was stou^ — It was finished in 176-2, and was sol- 
emnly consecrated in OtJber of thatyiar. The congregi.. 
tioa at that time consisted of 630 members. 



4$ HISTORY or YORK COU.VTt. 

In the stone church, the following persons preached as 
regularly called teachers : 

1. The Rev. Mr. IJornell, in whose time sacramental 
vessels were purchased. 

2. The Rev. Mr. Bager for the second time. 

3. The Rev. Nicolaiis Kurtz, who served ihe congrega- 
tion twenty years with great fidelity, and died as senior rer- 
erendi miaisteril^ in the seventy fouith year of Ijis age. 
He was an upright and ddigent servant of Jesus Ciirist. 

4. The Rev. Jacob Gaering, who administered to the 
congregation one and t^venty years. He was a man of exten- 
sive knowledge and of powerful eloquence. Universally be- 
loved by a num. ^rons congregation, he entered into the peace 
of his Lord in the fifty third year of his age. 

Since the first of August, 1809, t!ie Rev, John George 
Schmucker has served tiiis congregation, in connexi> n with 
a number of others in tlie country. As the old stone build- 
ing was fast going to decay, the corner stone of a new brick 
church, (the one no\v st inding,')was laid on the 2d of July 1 8 1 2. 
This church was not long afterward comjdeted and conse- 
crated. Its dimensions are 75 feet in length by 60 in 
depth. 

The Rev. Mr. S^hmacker has now served the congrega- 
tion 25 years, during which period it has greatly increased 
in numbers And in wealth, embracing many of the most res- 
pectable and wealthy families in the county. 

Since tiie year 1831, the Rev. Jonathan Oswald has 
preached to this cor)gregation in the English language, Dr. 
Schmucker olliciating principally in the German language. 

THE ENGLISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST, JOHN'S 
IN YORK. 

The year 1705 is tlie first certain date we have wifh res- 
j->ect to this church ; for though before that time divine ser- 
vice had been perf »rmed hfrc according to the rites and 
ceremonies of the Churc h of England yet it was not till the 
above date that measures were taken for the erection of a 
liouse of worship. In that year Thomas Minshall was ap- 
i>ointed to receive subscriptions towards building a church; 
Horaegave money, some timber, and others oflered labour. 



HISTORY Op YORK COUNTY. 4 J 

On the I5th February in the sims year, the Genera) as- 
fiembiy of tha provlace kindly lent tlieir assist mce. They 
authorized the raising, by w ly of loUery, of the sum o^' 
3003 pounds and fifteen shillings to be supplied towards 
the piytnent of the arrears ofdjot due for finishing St. Pe- 
ter^s and St, PauPs Episcopil chnrchas in the city ofPkil- 
adelphia', and towards finishing the Episcopal church at 
Carlisle^ niid builiiing an Episcopal chnreh in each of the 
towns of Fork and Rsailn^^ and repairing the Episcopal 
church at Mjlatllii in B^rks county, and the Episcopal 
church in Huntingdon in Yovk [\o\\' Adams) county; 
and for repairing the Episc^pil ciiurches at Chester and 
Concord and purciiasiug a glebe for the Church n^ Chester, 
in the county of Chester. The lime limited for drawing 
(he lottery was afterwards, in 1776, prolonged. By the lot- 
tery, 315 po'.inds was to be applied towards building the 
church in York, but as all the fick(!ts werei not sold, the 
sum raised fur that purpose, was but 257 pounds 5 shil- 
lings. 

In the year 1776 the R^v. Dof^tor Peters obtained, upon 
appUcation to the propri t )i'3, a lol of gro.ind in York, 80 
feet in front and 253f.iet indiplh,for tliL* site of the church 
and abiiriril-gro:jnd, at the yeirly rent of 1 shilling sterling, 
iftiemanded. The warr mi for lii ^ lot, was granted to Sim- 
welJohnston, Tiio nas Minshill and Joseph Aidum, trustees 
for the congregition. 

The sum arising fiom the lottery being by no means suf- 
ficient to defray the expenses of building the churcli, tiie 
members of the congregation solicited their friends in Phil- 
adelphia, Lancaster, and (dsewhere, from whom they receiv- 
ed somewhat more that 150 pounds. Mr. Johnston receiv- 
X\\^ money arising from the lottery and from the subscrip- 
tion of some of tiis particular ft iends ; the subscription of 
the people in York county were recieved by Mr. .Aldum, and 
those in Philadelphia and Biltimore by Thomas Usher. 
The subscription made by different atlornies at law, were 
ireceived by Thomas Hartley. Out of the money collected 
by Mr. Usher, the silver communion cup was purchased- 

A second and a third subscriptions was afterwards opened 
among the members of the congregation, Btit the sums 
received being still insufficient, the Rev. John Andrews, 
then missionary in York and Cumberland counties, from- 



44 HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 

the society for the propagation of the g03pel, went toPhila- 
delpliia, anvi by subtjcription in tliat city, obtained 57 
pounds and 6 pence. By means of this subscription, and 
of a collection niadcnt the first oj)eninj^ of the church, tho 
debts coutracted for the completion of the building were 
nearly discharged. In a short time afterwards every de- 
mand was satisfied; and thus by unwearied and praiseworthy 
exertions this church was at last built. 

The ladies of York made the hangings for the pulpit and 
desk, of crimson D.nnask, which they had purchased of 
their own generosity. 

The Cl»iirch being completely finished, the seats were 
yearly hired at a half yearly rent for the support of the min- 
ister of the church tor t!ie time being, a!l subscriptions for 
him having then been discontinued. 

During the revolutionary war, (with exception of a short 
inter t'al) there was no divine service held in the church: it 
was for some time used as an arsenal. Being very much 
out of ropair, throutih violence, and through long disuse, 
it was after the revolutionary war fitted for a place of wor- 
ship. 

A petition that the church might be incorporated was 
preserted to the legislature on the l3il) December 17So; 
and the legislature granted the petition on tiie 20lh of Sep* 
lember, 1787. 

In the fall of 1 8 1 0, (the sum of 1 300 dollars having been 
given forthe purpose by the friends of the church) the in- 
eide of the building was repaired anu very much altered. 
The pulpit* and reading desk were removed from the north 
aide of the west end of the ouilding ; a door was made at the 
east end, and in the place of the former door in the south 
fide, was made a wiudv)w. Agailery was erected. A chan- 
delier was likewise purchased in the city of Baltimore (for 
the sum of threo lumdred dollars) principallv given by gen- 
tlemen who resided in tlrit city. In this year a small house 
was erected near the church for the use of a sexton. 

There have been a great many divines connected with 
this church: the name of the Rev. Mr. Andrews has already 

* In removlnsj this Pulpit, several pounds of powder were found 
eoncealed un<ler it: it vas prob.ibly placed there at the com- 
raenct-tnent of the revolution by some one who h«d evil Uetignu^ 
Uj>oa the Kev. Mr. Batwell. 



History of york county, 41 

been mentioned, but besides him there were a number of 
others who preached here occasionally, and at irregular in- 
tervals. The first regular preacher whose name is mention- 
ed in the records, was the Rev. Daniel Batwell. His resi- 
dence was at the parsonage house in Huntingdon, now be- 
longing to Adams county, but he preached statedly lo the 
congregations in York. He was a missionary from England 
and commenced his services in this county, a short time be- 
fore the revolution. His feelings, with respect to that event, 
all conflicted with those of the people in this neighborhood- 
Having come from Hur.tingdon township, he {.reached at 
York on the sabbath, and on Monday following was seized 
by some rude and boisterous friends of liberty, by whom 
he was at three several times ducked in Codorus Creek. 
Being freed he set out on his return to his dwelling houso 
but he had hnrdly arrived there when a company of armed 
men from York roughly seized him, and, returning, confin- 
ed him in the public prison.* After sometime Mr. Batv;til 
v/as released, when he returned toEngland. Though his po- 
litical views did not coincide with those of Americans, yet 
it is due to his woith to say that he vvas an accomplished 
scholar and a good m-n. After Ins return, he obtaineti a 
chursii preferment in the county of Kent, where he ended 
his days. 

There was no divine service performed now for about 
five years. In tl)eyear 1778 or'79 the Rev. Dr. John An- 
drews, late Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, came , 
here and contintied to preach somewhat more than a year. 
The church was tlien vacant until 1 784, wlien on the 6th of 
July in that year, the Rev. John Campbell accepted of an in- 

* On the 2'JlofOct., 1777, a memorial from Mr. Batwell was 
read in Coiij^ress. It set forth "that on a charge of bein^^ concern' 
ed in a conspiracy to destroy the continep.tial mao;aziiies in this 
state, he wasin custody of (he keeper ot the jail of York county, by 
virtue of a commitment, until Congress or the supreme executive 
council ofthisstate should take further order touchingf him or until 
hesliould be oterwise dii-char<;jed according to lavv." It appeared to 
Con;;ress' by the certificate o ' Dr. D. Jameson that the memoiialist- 
was so much eni\ciated by a complication of disorders that his 
life would be endantrered unless he was removed from the said 
jail." Congress however, referred the memorial to the president 
and supreme executive council of the state, in the mean time per- 
mitting him to remove from jail, and receive every indulgeqce;,- 
yet still remaining in safe keeping. 



46 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

Vitation to come to York, and administer to the spiritual 
concerns of the congregation. He continiud here iiniil the 
year 1804, when he v\eiit to Carlisle, at which place he 
died in May 1819. 

The church was now vacant until the 1st of April 1810, 
when the Kev. John Armstrong hecume the rrgnlar minis- 
ter. Mr. Armstrong continued here until May 1818, when 
he accepted of an invitation to settle in the vieinity of Fred- 
ericktovvn. — Soon jifiervvards liie Rev. Grandison Ais- 
quith came here, who continued however but about one 
year. 

The Rpv. George B. Shaeffer was elected minister of the 
congregation on the 6th of March 1821. He shortly after- 
wards came to York, where he continued until ilie fall of 
1822. His successor was the Rev. ('hnrlcs Willi.ims, who 
was invited in Jurie 1823, and who shortly afterwards accep- 
led of the invitation. By an account which he took of the 
congregation on the 1st of January 1824, it was found to 
consist of 153 souls. 

The Rev. Mr. Williams was elected President of Balti- 
more college in 1825. On the 5th of March he preached 
his firewell ser-non to his congregation and on the 29tb 
ook leave of York for Baltimore. 

After a vacancy of one year, the Rev. Richard D. Hall 
was called and chosen Rector of St John's ch«irch, by the 
vestry, his call hearing date and his services commencing on 
the 16th of April, 1826. 

Mr. HalTs successor was the Rev. John V. E. Thorn, of 
Carlisle, who was elected on Easter day in 1828. Mr. 
Thorn continued, during his ministration, to reside m Car- 
lisle, and to appropriate the services of every second or 
third Sunday to the church in York. He resigned the 
charge of the congregation here on tlie 1st of January, 1831, 
iince whicli time there has been no regular ministration to 
the spiritual wants of the congregation, though service is 
held occasionally in the church, by clergymen visiting this 
portion of the vineyard. 

The number of members at present belonging to the con- 
gregation is very small. 

Before we close this article, we may mention an incident 
connected with the early history of St. John's church, which 
has just come to our knowledge: 



^ HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 47 

About ihe year irr4, Queen Caroline of England sent 
three churcli belis as presents, one for York, one for Lan- 
caster and one for Carlisle. The bell intended for the e- 
piscopai churcii in York, weighing; about 500 pounds, ar- 
rived safely, and was deposited belbre ihe house of Joseph 
Updegratt; Esq., on the pavement; and as there was no 
steeple or cupola in which to place it for the use of tho 
church, it lernained there for some time. At length it 
was taken without any ceremony, or any opposition on the 
part of the vestry (if, indeed, theie was such a body in ex- 
istence at that tin»e,) and placed in the steeple of the 
court-house, where it remains to this day. Jt now belongs 
to the county by the law oi' selzibus bdhrum et han^upibm 

in cup olavvm— {see ''0\d law Rook," vol. 76. p. 6592) 

and is further secured to the county, by the fact that it is 
non comatibus in a.io. The congregation have, however 
the use of the bell, as it is used to indicate the titne of meet* 
ing whenever service is held in tl-.e Episcopal church. 

YORK PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION. 

Several families of the Presbyterian denomination resided 

I in York as early as iUe year 1750, yet they formed no con- 

! gregatiun and had no place of separate worship. After the 

building of the Episcopal Church of St. John's, the prea- 

byterians worshiped in it, for some years, in common with 

the members of the Church of England. 

About the year 1789 the present Brick Church was built 
in which from that time onward they held separate worship. 
The first slated preacher to the congregation was the Rev. 
j Robert Cathcart, who was ordained and installed pastor 
i of this and of the Hopewell congregation by the presbyte- 
ry of Carlisle, in October 1793. The congregation at the 
time of his ordination contained about twenty five families. 
At present it consists of about thirty families, with betweeq 
thirty and forty communicants,* 

• In connexion with the York consjregation may be mentioned 
that of Hopewell, formerly thatof'Kound Hill." The Hopewell 
congregation was formed between the years 1768 and 1770, when a 
log house was erected as a plate o( worship. In 1790, a larger 
church was built in a more central situation. In (he year 1793, a 
connection was formed between the Hopewell and the York con* 
^regation, at which time the Rev. R. Calhcart was installed their 
joint pastor. Previous to 1793 they regularly had preachers eeut 



49 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT '*3LATE 
RIDGE/' IN PEACHBOTTOM TOWNSHIP. 

This congregation is ofr.ncient origin. The first church 
was built near Muddy Creek, sometime before the year 
1750. Tl»is church was afterwards burnt, and a second 
temporary building was then erected about three miles 
further south. The latter chnrch was soon de?ertrd, and 
a new and third house of worship was erected at a still dif- 
fcrenf place, viz. the place where Slate Ridge church noxv 
stands. In the year 1762, a new and belter and/cur/A 
church was built of squared logs on ilie same site. In or 
about the year 1800, the log church was burnt by an incen- 
diary, when ^Jiflh church was erected, it beirg the third 
one built on the same ground. This fifth chnrch is a large 
stone edifice; it is still standing, and is uniformly known 
by the name of the ^-Slciie Kidgt Church:' 

The first preacher in the first of these churches was the 
Rev. Mr. Whittlesay. As the population was very small 
when he commenced his labors, he administered unto the 
spiritual wants of those who inhabited that tract of country 
which is now included within the townships of Chance- 
ford, Lower Chanceford, Fawn, and Peac)jbottom. As, 
the population increased, other congregations and church- 
es arose. Even during the time of Mr. Whiitclsay, his in- 
fant congregation had so increased, that those, who at 
first worshipped in one church, worshipped in two. For 
during his time and under his directi«ui a church was c- 
rected in what is now Lower Chanccford, which church 
by the way was a building: of about 60 feet by 30, wag al- 
ways called the *-frame meeting-house" and stood until a- 
bout the year 1800, when it was removed, and the present 
itone church was erected on the same ground. How long. 



thorn by the presbytery, several of whom remained with them for 
one year. A few years a^o an elegant brick church was erected, 
it beiDR the third one built by this congregation 

In 1825 the congregation consisted of about fifty f«mUie«i MMl 
a hixndrsd and fifty commuaic»Dti. 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 4§ 

Mr. Whittlesay laboured with his people cannot now be as- 
certained; but he did previous to the year 1750. It was 
during his lime that the church was erected. 

After the death of Mr. Whittlesay but before the yea? 
1750, came the Rev. Mr. Morrison, an emigrant from Scot- 
land. It was in his time that the second church was erected. 

After Mr. Morrison's departure, this congregation jointly 
with that of what is now Lower Chanceford, was blessed 
with the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Black. During his time 
ihe third church was erected. 

The successor of Mr Black, was the Rev. John Strain, 
who was, in 1760, installed joint pastor of this and of the 
Lower Chanceford congregation. In his lime ihe fomth 
church was erected. Mr. Strain died in March 1774. 
He was a man lemarkable for his piety, and was distin- 
guished for his zeal and fidelity in his holy office. His la- 
bors were much blessed; and, after he had ceased from the 
earth his memory was affectionately cherished. 

The Rev. Mr. Smith then jMcached to this and the Low- 
er Chanceford congregation for two years. 

The Rev. JohnSlemons was then settled the joint pastor 
ftf both congregations. At Slate Ridge^ he preached a- 
bout ten years, and then resij^ned that part of his charge 
on account of the infirmities of age. He continued to la- 
bour in Lower Chanceford about four years afterwards. 

The Uev. Dr. Samuel Martin then became the Pastor of 
the Slate Ridge congregation. When, in four years after- 
wards, Mr. Slemons resigned his situation in Lowes 
Chanceford, Mr. Martin became the joint pastor of both 
congregations. Mr. Martin left these two congregations 
in about the year 1812 | and in about eighteen months af- 
terwards he became the pastor of the Lower Chanceford 
congregation: about the same time Mr. Parke became pas- 
tor of the Slate Ridge congregation: Each of them contin- 
ues until the present tinie. 

^In the above account we liave spoken of the Lower 
Chanceford congregation. Chanceford township was e- 
rected while York was apart of Lancaster county: itw^a 
divided in the year 1807, when Lower Chanceford was e- 
rected. Consequently the "frame Meeting house'' until 
1807 was in Chanceford; andhas since that time (bydivisioR 
of the towDBhip) been in Lower Chanceford. We preferied 



^0 HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 

deFi^nating the congregation by the present name of the 
township, rather than by its former and ("until 18C6) right 
name, in order to avoid obscurity, and apparent inconsis- 
tency. In like manner tlie church-building at Slate Ridge 
was until 1817, in Fawn township; and since that time(bj 
the division of Fawn j has been in a newly erected township, 
called Pcachbottom, from a ferry in that j>lace which had 
long borne the same name. The Slate Ridge Church and 
the Lower Chancefoid Church are about eight miles a- 
part. The first church was built at the junction of Scott's 
run* with Muddy Creek, it being east of tlie fcrmer, 
and south of the latter. The second wr.s over the Ma- 
ryland line on land then o^^ned by Michael Whiteford. 
The present site of the Slate K\(]^e church is but a- 
bout three quarters of a mile fr(;m tlie Maryland line, 
the congrer^ation consisting of people from both states. 



THE GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH IN YORK. 

The German Reformed Ccrfrrptirn is without ex- 
ception of one the inoit ancient religious associitions in iho 
county. The exact xerr wlun tie cot grfg?.ticn vvrs firsl 
formed, is m t knc w n ; bit ii h; d exij-tcd &( me years before 
it was blessed with the instruction of a stated teacher. As 
the congregation, in its infancy, was i ot extensive, it was 
unable to support a settled minister; Lut it fast increased 
ia strength. 

On the 12th of Arprst 1744, tie elders of the church, 
\iz. Geoige Meyer, Philip Roilirrck, Sic. seit a written in- 
vitation to the Rtv. Jacob Liscliy to be their settled minister, 
Mr. Lischy declined accej ting the in\it:.t;on but, in tha 
words of il)eCliurch-book,**so/jfl( dieganze Gemtindeihrii 
im Nal.men d(s dreycinigcn Gciles^ noih mal zu ihrem 
JPrediger bei'vfen.^^ Mr. Lischy accepted the second invi« 
talion \\hich vas made on the 2£th of May 1745; and com- 



* So called from Mr. Scott, who died about the year 1828, a »ed 
nearly 100 years. This man, who lived nearly a cealury, furui*b€<| 
uost ot the facts contained ia the above uatrative. 



HISTORY OF YORK COtfNTY, S! 

ing to York he preached his sermon of intrnduction on the 
text in the first six verses of the second chapter of Ezekiel, 
and upon the same Sunday administered tlie Sacrament. 

Soon after Mr. Lischy had come here, the trustees for 
the congregation, viz, Jacob Welsch and Smiuel Welsch 
took up a lot of ground in the town of York for a meeting- 
house. This lot No. 91, was laid out and surveyed by 
Thomas Cooksori Esq., for the use of the congregfition, on 
the 11th of March 1746, and is described in a draught 
thereof, made shortly afterwards, as '"containing in front on 
High Street, 65 feet, and in depth, to a twenty foot alley, 
280 feet: Bounded on the east by a lot now in the occu- 
pation of John Hay; on the soui/i, by the said alley ; on 
the ivest^ by a lot of Zichariah Shugard: and on the north^ 
by High street aforesaid."* It was on this Jot that the first 
church, which was of wood, was erected. 

In the year 1750, Mr. Lischy, having received a number 
t)f invitations from another congregation, wished for a dis- 
missal, and was about to leave York; but by a new and ear- 
nest request from the people of his charge, dated the 8 1st 
of December he was induced to reninln with them yet a few 
5^ear«. In the year 1 754 he agnin desired his dismissal, and 
at last preached his farewell-sermon from Acts, 20lh chnpter,, 
and 21st verse. But he was again hindered in his design, 
for the congregation eagerly entreated him not to forsake 
ihem, and more warmly exhibited marks of fond affectionr 
In Mr. Lischy 's own v:ords''''da dieGemeinde neuenErnstund 
JEifer tind Liebe bezeigte und versprach. bin ich in meinem 
Vcrhaben gehinderef, und^ durch einen abermaligen neuen 
Beruf, bewogemvorden die Gemeinde fernerhin zu bedim - 

Mr. Lischy continued but a short time longer to admin- 
ister to the congregation; and upon the cessation of hi»' 
ministry, the church was for a season vacant. 



*At this early period, the con:;re^ation purchased lot No. 84 
-to erect a house on for their minister for the time bein?. The 
lot was originally surveyed for Georj^e Schvvaab, George ""Meyer, 
Henry Wolf, Joseph Welshhans, Jacoh Obb, and George Hoak, as 
trustees for the con^reajation. It U described by George Stevenson, 
in a certified plan thereof made on 2-5th Jan'jary 1753, as bounded 
on the west by Beaver Street, on the north by lot No 83, on the 
east by a twenty foot Alley, and on the south by anothei" tweRtj 
^oot alley. 



55 BISTORT OF TGHK COUNTT. 

The attention of the congregation was now devoted to- 
ivards obtaining a successor to Mr. Lischy, Their thoughts 
were finally directed to the Rev. Johann Conrad Wirtz, who 
vias born in the town and canton of Bern, in Switzerland, 
and was then pastor of the Churchfs ofRachorand Fally in 
Jersey. The congregation sent him a letter by the hands 
of Baltzer Spengler, desiring him to come to York, and 
preach a few sermons with the expectation that he might be- 
come their clergyman. He received the letter on the 2Ist 
of August 1761, and on the 30th, he left Jersey in company 
with Mr. Spengler for York. He arrived at York on Satur- 
day the 5th of September, and preached his first sermon to 
this congregation, on the Sunday following. The congrega- 
tion being ple-^sed with Mr. Wirtz, gave him an invitation 
to become their pastor, which invitation was signed by the 
ciders and members of the Church, and was dated the 13th 
of the same month in which he had arrived. Mr. Wirtz ac- 
cepted the invitation on condition that he could obtain the 
permission of his congregations in Jersey, and of the Eng- 
lish Presbytery, at Braunschweig (Brunswick) by which 
lie had been ordained to the ministry. Returning to Jersey, 
lie obtained the permission of the Presbytery on the 'i4th 
of October, and afterwards of his congreaations; and o:i 
the 5th of May 1762 he again arrived in York, and on the 
following Sunday (viz. 9lh May*) preached his inaugural 
sermon from the 10th verse of the lOlh chapter of Revala^ 
tions. 

In Mr. Wirtz's time the congregation had considerabTy 
increased. By an account contained in the Church book 
dated the 1st of January 1751 it appears that there wero 
but eighty seven members of the several congregations viz. 
those at York town, Kreutz creek, Codorns and Bermudian 
creek, over which Mr. Lischy tlien presided. From an 
account made by Mr. Wirtz on the 13th of May 17G2, it 
appears that seventeen new persons had been lately added 
to the Church of York-town alone, and from another ac- 

• On the said 9th of May 1762, the first election was held, that is 
recorded in the church books; lhoua;h there had been regular ofR 
cers for many years before that time, yet their names nre not now 
to b: found. The officers elected on the above mentioned day were 
Jacob Hock, Johannes Gugo^es [Coockas] Mariin Danner and Jo- 
seph W'elshhans, as JS/ders, John Schultz and Jacob Scheiba* X>ea- 
cont't and Michael Schwaab as Secretary. 



HlSTOilY OF YORK COUNTY, 



5'S 



count dated the 24th of May 1 763, it appears that there were 
jEifiy-six persons belonging to the same church. 

The old church of wood, was, in this stite of the con- 
gregation, too small for convenience: it was accordingly 
removed, and on 1 he 24th of May 1763. the corner stone 
was laid for a new edifice. This church of stone was coffi- 
pleted, in the following year, Christian Wamppler being 
the architect. 

Mr. Wirtz did not long continue a minister to the con- 
gregation; for he died on Wednesday, theSlst of Septem- 
ber 1763, and v;as bnried on the following Friday. 

There was now a vacancy in the church for about two 
years; the Rev. Wdliam Otterbein commenced his libors m 
September 1705, and continued to administer unto the con- 
gregation for about nine years. 

In May 1774, the Rnv. Daniel Wagner became tiie min- 
ister of the congregation, and such lie continued until the 
year 1786, when he removed to Tulpehockin ia Berk* 
county. 

The Rev. air. Stock and the Rev. Mr. Droldenier thoa 
administered to the congregation. 

In October 1793 the Rev. Mr. Wagner returned to York* 
and again took the pastoral charge of this congregation. 

During the ministry of Mr. Wagner, the congregation 
suffered a great loss, for on the night of tlie 5th of July 
1797, the church, with all its contents, was destroyed by 
lire. The congregation immediately took means for the e- 
rection of another building. This third church, which is 
built of brick, is much larger than that one which was burnt, 
and is erected on the same site. It was solemnly consecra- 
ted on the 1 1th of May 1300. 

It is 65 feet in frontt and 55 feet deep. 

The Rev. Mr. Wagner removed from York, on the 1st of 
October 1802, having received an invitation to settle in 
Fredericktown, ftlaryland. 

After an interval of about eighteen month*, the Hev. 
George Geistweit became a minister to this congregation 
in May 1804; and he continued as such until about Whit- 
suntide 18-20; when he resigned his charge. Mr. Geist- 
weit still continued to preach occasianally, until the close 
of the V ear. 



54 HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 

The Rev. Lewis Mayor, was tli<^ next minialer of this 
church. He arrived in York on the 8 th of January 1S21, 
and presided over the s;)iiitaal concerns of a niunerous con- 
grejjation until April 1825. Havi.ig accepted the office of 
professor in the theological institution at Cirlisle erected 
by tlie ujembers of the German Reformed Syno<i, Mr. May- 
er preached hia farewell-sermon at York on Sunday, the 
3d day of the abovenienUoned month. He left York on tlie 
4ih, and was inducted into o3ice at Cirlisle on Wednes- 
day, the 6th of April. 

Mr. Mayer was succeeded by the Rev. James R. Reily, 
who preached his introductory sermon on tiie 1st of April, 
1827, the congregation having been without a regular min- 
ister for two years after iMr. Mayer left it. Mr. Reily con- 
tinued to preside over the spirituil concerns of the congrega- 
tion until July, 1831. His health had been feeble 
for a long tim? and at length he fa;ind himself so seriously 
affected, that he was induced to take leave of his congrega- 
tion, in order to have time and opportunity to take measures 
for its restoration. He accordingly preached his valedicto- 
ry sennoa on the 20ih of July iii the abovcmentioned 
year. 

After Mr. Reily's resignation the congregation v/as with- 
out a regular pastor until the 1st of October, 1832, when 
the Rev. John Cares, in complian.^-e with a unanimous call 
preiiented to him in the spring previous, took charge of it. 
During the period between the termination of .Mr. Reiiy's 
and the commencement of Mr. Cares' duties as pastor, the 
congregation was occasionally supplied by th? professors and 
students cf the theological seminary. 

Mr. Cares continues to have charge of the congrega- 
tioD. 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

On the 17th of April, 1750, John Moore entered his nanis 
for a lot marked No. 295 in the general plan of the town of 
York, '"boundpd & situate on tlie e.ist side of Beaver street, 
containing in bre^dlh north andsouth 57 feet and 6 inches, 
and iu len<^lh to a 20 foot alley, 2.30 feet." On the 20th of 
June in t!ie same year, Moore assigned his riglit to Casper 
Stillinger who short!/ afterwards erected a stone dwelling 



HISTORY or YORE COUNTT. 5$ 

house on the lot and m^tde other improvements, Caspar 
died intestate, Ieavin;T as heirs, and children Michael Stil- 
linger, Kichard Slillinger, and Barbara then married to 
Joseph Wirt. From these three heirs by virtue of "threo 
deedsjthedateof tvvoofvvhich is in August 1775, and of one 
on the 4th of i\Iay 1776, tha liouse &c. passed into the 
hands of Joseph Smith, who purchased it for the use of the 
Roman Catholic congregatian, and presented it unto them. 

The former dwelling-house of Casper Stillinger now un- 
derwent alterations and repairs, by means whereof it was 
converted into a Roman Catholic Ciiurch. This building 
continued a place of divine worship until the year ISl'ol 
when, as through time and use it had lost the "glory of us 
lirst estate," it was torn down, Sea second building, the pres- 
ent brick church, was erected on nearly the same site. 

For many years there was no stated preacher to this con- 
gregation that resided in York, but preachers came to ad- 
minister unto them at stated times,— at first on every sixth 
and afterwards on every fourth week,-— from the Catholic 
society established in Conewago township, Adams County, 
distant four miles from Hanover. 

The first settled Catholic preacher who resided in York 
was the Rev. Lorence Huber, who came here in December 
1819, and continued about six months. The second was 
the Rev. George D. Hogan, who came here in the summer 
of 1820. The third preacher was the Rev. P. J. Dween, 
who came here in the summer of 1822, and has continued 
until the present time. 

The right name of this church is ««Siint Patrick's 
Church.-' 

THE 3IETHQDIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, IN YORK. 

The first methodist preacher who visited York was the 
celebrated Freeborn Garretson, who preached in the neigh- 
borhood of York on the 24th of January, 1781. The house 
in which the first conversion to methodism was made in 
this vicinity, was then known as WorIey''s tavern, about 
one mile from tlie borough. From that lime onward the 
progress of methodism was continual, but not rapid, for sev- 
eral years. The congregation was without a place especi- 
&\\j designed for public worship for some years after Mr. 



56 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

Garreison's visit. Wo know little of th3 precise condition 
of this society, farther back tirin tlie year 1819, at which 
time Andrew Heaiphill was stationed here, and the congre- 
gation numbered 1 1 1 white and 11 colored members. 

Mr. Hemphill was sacceeded, in 1821, by the Rev. WiU 
liani Prettyman. 

In 1822, the Rev. Robert S. Vinton and the Rev Tobias 
Ueily were appointed, by conference, the former to York 
station, the latier to York circuit. 

In 1823, the Rev. Jacob Larkin was the methouii-t cler- 
gyman here. 

In 1824, the congregation numbered 146 members, and 
Vt^as supplied by the Rev. Charles A. Davis. 

In 1825, The Rev. Basil Barry was the clergyman of the 
congregation here, and was re-appointed in 1826. 

In 1827, the Rev. Andrew Hemphill siipplid this congre- 
gation, which at that time, numbered 208 me:nbcrs. Mr. 
Hemphill was re-appointed to this station in 1828. 

In 1829, the Rev. Henry Smiih and the Rev. James 
Brent, were sent to York station. In 1330, Mr. Smith was 
here alone. 

In 1831 and '32, the Rey. John A. Gere suj[>plie(J thiw 
station. 

In 18:33, conference fixed upon tiie Rev. Edward Smith, 
to take charge of the station — and at their session in 18y4, 
re-appointed the same Rev. gentleman. 

Tiic .society has been somewhat increased in number du- 
ring the last year. 

THE MORAVIAN CHURCH. 

The Evangelical Moravian Congregation in York town> 
liad its origin in the year 1750. The number of the mem- 
bers of the con2,regation at tliat time was about seventy and 
some odd. Tiieir first preacher was the Rev. Phiiip Maurer. 
During the first six years of this congregation, they held di- 
vine service in a private dwelling-house. 

In April 175 6, the corner stone was laid of the old 
Moravian church. The building still stands; though it is 
110 longer used as a church. In 1827, a neat brick church 
was built near the old building, the latter being now used as 
s parsonage. 



BISTORT OF YORK COUNTT. 5T 

jDuring the first 84 years of this congregp.tion, it had ap- 
i^ardsof twenty different preachers, inchjding tho present 
pajtor, the Rev. Dr. Dober. 

In conclusion of this brief account we would observe, 
that since the commencement of the congregation to the 
present time, 312 members of it have been called hence to 
another world; their mortal parts repose in the burying 
ground adjoining the church. "Our fathers — where are 
they ?" 

THE YORK COUNTY ACADEMY. 

On the 31st of July, 1777, Conrad Leitherman obtaineci 
a ticket for lot No. 633, in iha town of York. He conlin- 
wed to be the owner of the lot until the 23th of February 
1785, when he sold it to the Protestant Ei>iscopa] Church 
of St. John's. 

The Rev. John Campbell then journied throughout Penn- 
sylvania, and the neighboring st\tes, and obtained from the 
generosity of individuals, the sum of about 5000 dollars to- 
wards building a school-house or academy on the above 
mentioned lot, and a parsonage house on a lot adjoining. 
The building of the academy was immediately commenced, 
and towards the close of the year 1787, although it was 
not fully completed, instruction first commenced. Tho 
building, as soon afterwards completed, was (and it stands 
the same at present) a large and convenient two ^tory brick 
edifice, having forty feet in front, and 60 feet in depth, with 
three spacious rooms on each floor. 

The general assembly of Pennsylvania on the 20th of 
September 1787, incorporated the Episcopal Church to 
which this institution was then attached. Under the incor- 
poration, as far as regards the academy, Thomas Hartley 
was the first president, Robert Hetrich the first secretary, 
Henry Miller the first treasurer, and Messrs James Smith, 
David Grier, William Harris, and the Rev. Mr. Henderson, 
the first visiters. The first instructors were two, viz. James 
Armstrong of the English language, and Robert Hetrich of 
the Latin and Greek languages. The first official meeting, 
particularly with respect to the academy, recorded in its 
archives, was held on the 28th of February 1788. 

From the small number of Episcopalians belonging to the 
church, and from the want of proper funds, tho corporation 



•^ tilStORT OF YORK COUNTt. 

^as"nnab]e to uphold and snjiport the acidemy." On Ihii 
account a petilion was presented to ths legislature on the 
18th of March 1797, the object of which was ta surrender 
the building to tlie stUe on conJition th:it it be used as a 
fichool-hoiise for the county of York, and that such a sum 
of money be granted as would be sufficient to support it. 
The legislature accepted this offer of surrender, and on the 
first of March, 1799, incorporated and endowed tho*'York 
Count)' Academy/* 

The first trustees appointed under the new charter, wera 
James Cafnpbell, Jdcob Goering, Daniel Wagner, John 
Black, Robert Cathcart, William Paxt:)n, Thomas Hartley, 
James Smith, John EJie, John Clark, Jacob [lay, Jacob Ru- 
disell, Elihu Underwood, \Villiam Ross of Chanceford, John 
Baraitz, Michael Schmeiser, Conrad Laub, William Mc- 
Lean, William Scolt, Philip Gosslcrand George Bard. The 
first President of the board of trustees was the Hon. James 
Smith, Esq: he was elected at the first meeting, but on ac- 
count of his age and inffirmaties he resigned on the 8th of 
March 1800, when John Edie was elected Iiis successor. 
The first instructor under the fir^t incorporation was Mr- 
Robert Hctiich. 

In the year 1811, endeavors were made to obtain a repeal 
of the act which incorporated the *'York County Academy.*** 
On the 11th of January the rector, church-wardans and 
vestrymen of the Episcopal church of St. John petitioned 
the legislature for that purpose. On the 2 2d, the trustees 
of the academy, and some inha!)itaiit3 of the borough of 
York rem'Jnstrated to the legislature against the above p-jti- 
tion. On the 30th, a number of inhabitants of the borough ' 
and county petitioned. The legislatire having t^ken the 
subject into consideration, resolved on the 26th of February 
that the petition of the rector &.c. could not be granted. 

In April 18 17, the rector, cliLrrch-vvardens, and vestry- 
men of the church of St. John brought an action against the 
trustees of the Academy, in order toobtiin the repossession 
oithe lot and building. This action is still pending. 

The male and female departments of this institution nre 
now under the superintendance of excellent teachers. The 
Rev. Stephen Boyer, a gentleman of extensive literary at- 
tainments, has charge of t'ue male department — and Mr&. 
Young is at the head of the feinalo department. 



; HISTORY OF TORK COUNTT. V 

THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT YORK, 

This institution wfis fornded by an act of the Synod of 
the German Reformed Church at its session at Bedford in 
Septeniber 1S24, and commenced its operations in CarHsIe 
on 17th of May 1825, ijie inautruration of the Professor 
having previously taken pli.ce on the 6ih of April. It was 
removed to York in October 1828 in pursuance cf an act 
of Synod at its session at Lebanon in Septerubcr of the 
same year. The institution lias a library of between 30CO 
and 40CO volumes, chit fly in the German langunge, among 
which are some rnre works. There are two professors, viz., 
L. Mayer, D. D. Professor of Dogmatic Theology, and Rev. 
F, A, Raucli D. P. Professor of Sacred Literature. 

A Classical School under the auspices of the Synod cf 
the German Reformed Church was founded by a resolutioa 
of Synod at Hanisburg in Septtrnber 1831. It was com- 
menced in May 1832. Mr. William A. Good, of Reading 
Pa., now pastor of the Reformed congregation in Hagers- 
town Md. was appointed Teacher. In September 1832, iho 
Synod at Frederick Md. appointed Dr. F. A. Ranch Prin- 
cipal of the institution f nd Professor in the Theological 
Seminary. Rev. John H. Agnew formerly Professor of 
Lanfi'uages in VVasIiington College, Pa. was subsequently ap- 
pointed Assistant, and upon his rei-ignation in September 
18SS, the Board cf Visiters elected Rev. H. Miller his suc- 
cessor. Rev. Charles Dober, pastor of the Moravian church 
in York was also engaged as assistant in May 1832, and ia 
the Spring of 1834 on the resignation of Mr. Miller, Mr. 
Samuel W. Budd A. B. was appointed to the vacancy. 

The Teachers at present emj,l«>yed in the school are Rev. 
Dr. F. A. Ranch, Piincipal, Mr. Samuel W. Budd and Rev. 
Charles Dober, Assistants. The number of students in the 
two institutions at present (July 1834) is about 80, who aiQ 
generaUy from a distance. 



CO HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

CHAPTER VII. 

HANOVER. 
A topographical and historical sketch of the town of 
Hanover cannot fail cf being interesting to a large portion 
of the public. We £re indebted for most of tlie facts con- 
tained in the following notice cf that toun, to an account 
of the place which was written in September 1818, and 
with which Mr. Daniel f*.* Xangc very politely favored 

Topography. Hanover is situated in York county, Pa. 
andi3 39°46' N. L. fcnd 1°48' W. of Philadelphia. * It is 
distant six miles fiom the Maryland line; one, from Adams 
county; eighteen from York, the seat of Justice for this 
couTity; foriy-tvvofrom Baltimore; forty-one, from Freder- 
ick tuwn; sixteen from Gettysburg; thirty-six from Harris- 
burg; and thirty, from Carlisle. The turnpike road leading 
from Baltimore to Carlitle and the road from Frederick- 
town to Philadelphia cross each othcrat the centre square of 
the town. Alcng the Roads the greatest part of the houses 
arc built; they form the different streets and derive their 
names from the different places to which they lead. Tho 
atreet leading from the square towards Y oik, York-street; 
that towards Carlisle, Carlisle-street; and that towards 
Fredericktown, Frederick-street; a 5th street in which there are 
a number of buildings, intersects York-street near the sqr.are, 
and runs in the direction of Harrisburg through Abbott's 
town, Berlin, Dillstown &.c. and is ihencs often called Ab- 
bottBtown-strect, although the correct name is Pigeon-street, 
on account of its leading to the Pigeon hills. Besides these 
there are a number of back streets on which many neat 
and convenient buildings are erected. Of the several allieg 
there is nothing particularly to be observed. 

There are no water-streams cf any consideration in the 
neighborhood of this town; the nearest are at the distance 
of three or four miles, and are the Conewago, Codorus &c. 
The very best limestone water is that dady used by the 
families in town. 

Hanover is one of the largest villages, not a seat of jus- 
tice, in the state of Pennsylvania. Of its numerous dwelling 
bousei some arc very elegant two story brick or frwa<» 



HISTOEY OF tors: COUNTY, 6 J 

bnildin^s; others however are but one story high, and are 
built of variojs materials. 

The public buildings area very neat market house on the 
square, and two elegantly built church* s, the one belonging 
to the German Luthtran, and the other to the German'Re- 
formed congregalioiff Almost the only religious denomina- 
tions are the German Reformed and the German Lnlheran: 
there are Ijowever a few families of Roman Catholics whose 
placeofwcrship is the chapel in Adams county, four miles 
from Hanover. 

The language of the old and young is the German, there 
being bi]t iljree or four English fimilics in tiie town ; yet 
the English language is much spoken by the voung,' and 
will prcioably at no very distant period supplatit its older 
and more energetic sister. 

We believe there is not a town in Pennsylvania where id- 
lers and vagabonds are more rarely to be met with than in 
Hanover. The inhabitants are, with ftw excppiioi s indus- 
trious and economical not only in their mechanical and pro- 
fessional avocations, but also in their ngricultural pursuits. 
Nearly one half of them have lots or small fc.rms near town," 
from which they raise a sufi^cient quantity cf grain for y^ar- 
ly home consumption, with not unfrcquenlly, somewhat for 
disposal. There are few if any places in thecountry of the 
same magnitude in which there are so many wealihy and so 
few indigent persons; a very largo mr-joriiy of the inhf^bi- 
tants living in affluent circumstances, and mf:ny of them 
being independent as to their fortunes; but the '-propensity 
for more,^' so natural to man, admits not of erse. 

The local situation of Flanover is truly inviting, it Iving 
as in the fields of Elysium. It is situated in the tevel 'and 
beautiful valley of Conewago, which extends mostly toward 
the north west, north, & north east, of the town & which in 
fertility of soil is but little inferior to the best land in the 
state. The descents from the square of the town are, in 
every direction, except one, so gentle as hardly to be jer- 
ceived, and are yet sufficient to drain ofi'the wjiter. The 
common is large and beautiful, and the whole neighborhood 
is calculated to excite admiration and delight. About a 
mile from town in a south easterly direction, begins that ve- 
ry extensive range of country commonly called' the barrens" 
oa account of the poorness of its soil: this ntighbornoodj lo- 



62 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

gether with the Pigeon Hills, distant about four miles in a 
northern direction from town, can amply sup()ly the inhabi- 
tants of Hanover with fruit, and the wealthy farmers of 
Conewago with chestnut rails for all ages to come. 

History. The history of Hanover is almost wholly lost 
in the graves of its first settlers; the following liowever is 
the result of every thing that could possibly be collected on 
this subject. 

Hanover was laid out in lots by Richard M'Alister Esq. 
in the year 1763 or 1764, at which time the surrounding 
country had been but lately settled, and wore much the ap- 
pearance of a wilderness. When the rumour of Mr. M'Alis- 
ter's intentions was spread throughout the neighborhood, 
the people generally laughed at his project, and considered 
it the effect of a wild fancy. A very aged and respect- 
able lady of a remarkably retentive memory related a few 
years ago the following anecdote on this subject. A certain 
farmer of those days returning to his family after some vis- 
its through the neighborhood, thus addressed his wife in 
the presence of the lady above aluded to. "Mammy," (this 
was then, and is yet, a very common address of the Ger- 
mans to their wives) ^'mammy, 1 have great news to tell 
you — Richard M'Alister is going to make a town." The 
wife, after some enquiries and observations, said with a sar- 
castic smile which spoke more than words, ''Ha, ha, ha! I 
am afraid that man will turn a fool at last. — 1 think he'll 
call his new towD, Hickory totvn.'^'' — The spot on winch Han- 
over is now in part situated, was then covered with large 
hickory-trees, which stood almost impenetrably thick. The 
above anecdote although simple is not unpleasant^ for it 
shows how the past has been, and by constrasting that with 
the present, we see how the world advances. All great un- 
dertakings begin in little things, ''of so much labor was 
it to found the walls of lofty Rome." 

The account written in September, 1818, of which we 
have availed ourselves, says: '"The farm-house or residence 
of Mr. M'Alister, is yet in existence. It is a two story 
log building in Ballimnre street, occupied at present by 
Henry Albright, Jun. This house, in which Mr. M'Alister 
kept a store and a tavern, (the road from York to Fred- 
ericktown then passing his door.) is the second house 
to the right coming from Baltimore, The first house 



BISTORT OP YORK COUNTY. 6S 

built on the appropriated lots, is a one story log-house 
in Frederick street, the second to the right coming from 
Fredericktown, and at present occupied by Jacob and John 
Rieder. It was erected in 1764, by a certain Jacob Nus- 
ser, who, from his having been the first improver of the 
place, was afterwards jocosely called the governor of 7^/'*^/- 
isterstowriy the name by which Hanover was then generally 
known. A short time afterwards three or fo»ir more hous- 
es were built, occupied at present by Henry Felty, Charles 
Barnitz, John Bardt, Sec Stc. Henceforward the progress 
of improvement was rapid, until ten or twelve years ago, 
when It seemed to have made a stand; there are however 
occasionally some buildings erected, but not more than 
three or four on an av(;rage every year." 

Until near the commencement of the American revolu- 
tion, Hanover was under Very singular circumstances. It 
was exempt from the jurisdiction of any court, and was for 
many years not improperly called- the ^^rogue''s resort.'^'* 
All refugees from Justice betook themselves to Hanover, 
where they were under no fear of being seized by any 
officer. If the Sheriff of York county could catch the de- 
linquent one half mile out of town in a north-western di- 
rection, then he might legally make him his prisoner under 
the authority of the courts of this county; but neither in 
town nor nearer the town than that had he any ministerial 
power. An anecdote has been related by a respectable 
old gentleman of Hanover which deserves credit. A num- 
ber of robbers having broken into the store of the proprie- 
tor, Mr. M'Alister, he seized them and conveyed them to 
York for safe confinement; but the Sheriff refused to ad- 
mit them into the jail with these observations to Mr. M'Al- 
ister, "you of Hanover, wish to be independent, there- 
fore punish your villains yourselves." The officer remem- 
bered past obstructions of justice and was not unwilling to 
retiliate. Although these circumstances may appear 
Btrange, yet the account we have given is strictly 
true. 

The reason of this extraordinary exemption from all law 
was as follows: Charles I. granted Maryland to Cecilius 
Calvert, Baron of Baltimore, in Ireland, on the 30ih of June 
I63'i — Charles H. granted Pennsylvania to William Penn on 
the 4th of March 16S1. For many years the boundary 



64 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

line between these two grants was not ascertaiaed. Bai- 
tirnore and Penri claimed each the neighborhood of Hdno- 
ver as comprised within their several grants, and each so 
chiirjiiiig, granted riiilits to lands in oj)position to the other. 
Dnring'tliis nncertiin state of things, consequent on tlie dis- 
pute, a |)e!ty nobleman, named Jolin Dicji^es, obtained from 
tiie proprietor of Maryland, a urunt for 10,000 acres of land; 
it being left to the option of Digges to locate snid grant on 
whaisoevfr unimproved lands ho pleased within the juris- 
diction of his Lordaliip. By the advice and under the di- 
redion of Tom, a noted Indian chief, after whom Tom^s 
creek is called, Mr. Digges look up, by virtue of said grant, 
68-22 acres, contained ;:t present within the townships of 
Conevvago and Gt^rmany in Ad.ims county, and the town- 
ship of Heidelberg in York county. Hanover, which before 
its incor|)oration was a pait of Heidelberg township, was 
B'tuated on the south eastern extremity o^'^'Dlgges'' choice.V 
The course pursued by each proprietor of making individu- 
al grants at random, and, in opposition to each other was 
the cause of Hanover and the adjioent country being ex- 
empted from all j irisdiction. The laws of neither province 
could be extended to a place with respect to which the 
mutual claims were not settled either by survey or cliarter. 
The citizens of Hanover llierefore were not liable to be 
seized by any sheriff, or to be confined in any prison. De- 
linquents flew to it on the discovery of their crimes and 
escaped all danger of being brought to jus!ice : the appella- 
tion v[ Rouge^s llesort was therefore not inapplicable. It is 
unnecessary to st :ti any of the grievous evils arising from 
this state of things; f<>r any one who has any knowle»!ge of 
human niture, can form a correct opinion of the confusion 
and disorder then prevalent. 

This uncertainty of boiindary continued for some years. 
The division line between Pennsylvania nnd Maryland was 
not finally sittied till ju.-t bt^fore the revolution. Mason's 
and DiX('n"'s line was run in the year 1767 and 17G8, and 
the proceeduigs thereon wore ratified by the king in council 
on the 11th of January 1769. Th.? proclamations of the 
prop- ielaries to quiet tlie settlers &.c. were issued in 1774, 
that of Pennsylvjinia bearing date on the 15lh of September 
of that year. Hanover was now determined to be a part of 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. ^5 

Pennsylvania, and as such fell within the limits of the 
county of York. , , • 

From this time onward we find but little that is tvorth 
recording — The town has escaped, with a few exceptions^, 
the ravages of fire: nor have there been many accidents 
xvhich CO lid operate agninst it^ improvement and prosperity. 
In the year 1804 however the fever and ague raged in ex- 
cessive violence, and caused a considerable number of 

deaths. 

The town of Hanover was not erected mto a borough 
until the year 1815; the 4lh of Blarcli in that year being 
the date of its incorporation. The statute says of the bor-^ 
ough that it '-shall be comprised within the tract of land of 
Richard aPAIibter, deceased." The first elei:tion ol bur- 
gesses and town council was held on the 4th of March 
1815, at the house of Jacob Eichelberger in Frederick-street, 
and was superintended by Michael Hell man and Henry 
Welsch. A very handsome market-house was erected iii 
this same year. 

The present population of Hanover is about 1100. 



CHAPTER VII T. 

THE POOR HOUSE. 

Theleo-islature on the 6th of February, 1804, authorized 
theerectmo- of a house for the employment and support of 
thepoorin York county. The persons originally appointed 
to determine upon and fix the place for the erection of the 
Poor-House, were Martin Gardner, Samuel Collins, Abra- 
ham Grafius, Christian Hetrlch, Peter Small, Peter Storm, 
John Heneisen, Henry Grleger, and Daniel Spangler. 
After a number of meetings, they made their report on the 
SOth of June 1804. They "fixed on the spot of ground 
within the bounds of the borough of York, called the town 
commons, being the south-west part, nextadjommg- Codo- 
rus Creek and Water street, containing about twenty hve 
*cres." But in conseciuence of difterent claims havmg 



®® ' HISTORY Of TORE COUNrr. 

been made to the site they tixed upon, it was thou.,ht im- 

ZTa I" T'l "•"', ""^^^'"•y l">ildin,;. This wal repre- 
senied tothelegislatuie: and that boiFy on the 1st ofA- 
pnl 180., empowered the then directors to determine up- 
on snch a s,te as to them might appear eligible, and like- 
I ^M '","' "^' "«<^'=5sary buildings to be'erected there- 
on. 7 he directors immediately proceeded on the business 
commuied to their charge, and in the l6th of the same 
month, made report oftheir proceedings. From their writ- 

'•madepurch.ise of a certain plantation, and tract of land! 

?,r» T "^"'''"T '^'"^■'"^O". E'q-> <-nlled Elm-spring 
tarm* w, h.nonemde of the boroujh of York, as also one 
piece of timber andt containing nearly one hundred acres, 
wuhin two miles o( the aforesaid plantation." Shortly' 
after this, m 1805, the old buildings were erectedl and 

inApdlSoe. rheoHice of overseers of the poor ceased 

director!!' "''"■''"'"' '''^^°'^''''' '" P^"' "P»" «''« 

T,'"^^^'^> election of directors of the poor was held 

at"tl ; Co' n'"''^' ' '°'; "^"'i" ""- '-•^"- elecfed met 
.li f^ r' "■" '''^ '"''' ^^"vember following, and 

d mded themselves mto three classes. The place^f the 

ve,' • h "■ t'. " '"' '"'';'''^ '", "'"^ •^'^P''-"""" °'' tl>e first 
yeai;tliat otthe second at the expiration of the second 

ye:r-"soth:'^tf ""^'.''''f^' ."--Pi^'ion of the th"d 
yeai .—so that those wlm have been chosen since the first 

tkI.I'-^d"""'''' "O^"' *■""' " »s foil"-'": On the 17lh Oct 1766 
Mn .In . [, \" '?' " "''"^ '■"""'l "Kison." On 41h ofNov 

on .5lh Aprn. ™6!tmr;oiV ' ^' 7/^ „1" ""Zl' ^iT^ 

«>e ;,ifec7''','„"rf.""^^>' Robinson.' I„^ HI.- ,805 t paiod 

trie n„,ch! H L f''°°''' '" "n^iJ^alion of 4-100 pounds, the 

tract puiUiascd contuin.ng 132 acres, 156 perches and allow- 

farm "''cn!^'"' T-^'' " ''""°'''" '">' "'= "'""^ »f ">= "Hermitage 
wrpur'cl'^irto'rfoo ^^l^n^?." '^ ''"'^""' """ »"»"-"' ^'^ 
SlSSsVa-y^Ti'^ "Elm-Sprino;" and "Hermilase- farms wa, 
*nd olLf „,7 ,"!'' '"?«"■'<•<> for bricii. Ihne, scone, sand. 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 6 7 

election, have been chosen to serve for three years; & one 
third is annually chosen. Their style is "The Directors of 
the Poor and House of employment for the county ofYork.*' 

In the year 1828, another building was erected 
near the poor house, and connected with that institu- 
tion. This was the elegant brick hospital which gTeeig 
the eye of the stranger coming into York by the Philadelphia 
road, and is distinguished for its neatness, elegance and 
comfort. It is of brick, two stories high, its interior judi- 
ciously divided and the whole well fitted to the purpose 
for which it was erected. 

The entire cost, in cash, to the county, of this excellent 
building,, was §7800, a sum much less than it would have 
been but that a good deal of labor was performed, at its e- 
rection, by paupers supported at the poorhouse. 

We cannot avoid naming the workmen who built and 
finished the hospital. The manner in which the work 
was executed reflects no little credit upon them» The ma- 
son was Mr. Jacob May — the carpenters, Messrs. Moore, 
Dietz and Straber. 

The following is a li3t of the directors with the periods 
of their service. 

FIRST CLASS. 

Daniel Spangler, from October 9, 1804, to October 9, 

1810. 
George Barnitz, from October 9, 1810, to April 6, 1813. 
George Spangler,* from April 6, 1813, to Aug. 7, l8lo. 
Jacob Upp,t from Aug. 7, 1815, to Oct. 8, 1816. 
Michael VYelsh, from Oct. 8, 1816, to Oct. 12, 1819. 
John Fahs, from Oct. 12, 1819, to Oct. 1822. 
Henry Stover, from Oct. 1 822 to 1 825. 
Caspar Laucks,frora 1825 to 1828. 
John Emig, from 1828 to 1831. 
■ Nicholas Diehl, from 1831 to 1834. 



* Mr. Barnitz was commissioned on the 26th March, 1S13, an af- 
jistant Judge of the courts of York; and it was on this account 
;hat the court of quarter sessions on the 6lh April 1813, appoint- 
ed Mr. Spangler as Director. 

t Mr. Spangler was, after his appoinment, elected Director on 
L2th Oct. 1813: he resigned his office on August 7, 1815, when the 
'.ourt appointed Mr. U;)p, who was afterwards, viz, ou Oct. 10, 
i815, elected to the office. 



68 HISTORY OF YOllK COUNTY, 

SECOND CLASS. 

Jacob Small, from Oct. 9, 1804, to April 6. 180S. 
Jonalh.Hi Jessop,* from April 1808, to Oct. 10, 1S09. 
Martin VVeiser, from Oct. 10, 1809, to Oct 13, 1812. 
Gotlieb Ziegel, from Oct. 1812, to Dec 21, 1816. 
Andrew Kramer,! from Jan. 7, 1817, to Oct 14, 1817. 
George Spangler, frcm Oct. 14, 1817, to April 8, 1818, 
Thomas"l'aylor,J from Apr. 8, 1818, to Oct. 13, 1818 
Christian LaniiLs, from Oct. 13, 1818, to Oct. 9, 182K 
Micliael Enrich, from Oct. 9, 1821, to Oct. 12, 1824. 
Clement Stillinger, from Oct. 12, 1824, to 1827. 
Henrv Smyser, from 1827 to 1830. 
Alexander S nail, from 1830 to 1833. 
Christian Hildebrantl, 1833 to 1836. 

THIRD CLASS. 

Martin Ebert, from Oct. 9, 1804, foOcKU, 1908, 
George Lottman, from Oct. 11, 1808, toJan. 25,181^ 
Gotlieb Zieoel,§ from April 9, 1812 to Oct. 1812. | 

Jacob Schatfer, from Oct. 13, 1812, to Oct. 1814. 
Philip Kissinger, from Oct. H, 1814, to Oct. 1817. 
Wm. Johnston, from Oct. 14, 1817, to Oct. 10, 1820- 
Jacob Laiicks, from Oct. 10, 1820, to Oct 1823. 
Jacob Diehl,from Oct 1823 to 1826. 
JohnStrickler, from 1826 to 1829. 
Henry Wolf, from 1829 to 1832. 
John Rieman, from 1832 to 1835. 

^he stewards of the poor hoi ie have been John Demuth 
S years, George Lottman, 3 years, John Becker, 1 year 
William Jordan, 9 years, George Ilgcnfritz, S years, Geo. [ 
Schank, 4 years, Martin Gardner, from 1829 to the pre;*-; 

ent time. 



* Mr. Small who was elected a second time on Oct. 4. 1806» 
resigned on April 6, 1808, wiien the court appointed Mr. Jessop. 

f Mr. Ziegle, who was elected a second time on Oct. 11, 1815. 
aied on the 21st ot December 1816; and to fill the vacancy in of- 
fice, the court appointed Mr. Kramer. 

X Mr. Tytor was appointed in room of Mr. Spangler re- 
Bjgned- , , 

§ Mr. Lottman died on the 25th of January 1812; and the court 
at their next session appointed Mr. Ziegel to fill the vacancy 
occusioned thereby. 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNXr. 69 

The Clerks to the Directors have been, at different timeg< 
Emanuel Spangler, John Stroman, Georg;e W. Spangler* 
George Ccirothers, George Haller, Daniel Heckert, Henry 
Welsh, George Small and Michael Bentz. 

The Physicians of the hospital connected with the poor- 
house, have been the following gentlemen, in the order in 
which they stand, viz : 
Dr. J aim Morris, 
Dr. Thomas Jameson, 
Dr. John Rouse, 
Dr. Martini, 
Dr. John Bentz, 
Dr. Wm. Mcllvaine, 
Dr. Luke Rouse, 

Dr. Win. Mcllvaine, ( a second time.) 
Drs. Jacob and Michael Hay, 
Drs. Mcllvaine and Small, 
Dr. Alexander Smallj 
Dr. John Fisher. 
Drs. Haller and Rouse. 
Although the office of Overseers of the Poor is now a- 
bolished in this county, yet perhaps it may not be unpleas- 
ant to ijear a word concerning them. The first appoint- 
ment of Overseers of the Poor, by the courts of York coun- 
ty, was on the 2Gth of March, 1750. The record reads 
thus: ''At a court of Private Sessions of the Peace held at 
York for the county of York, tlie 26th day of March, in 
the twenty-third year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, 
George the Second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, 
France and Ireland. King, Defender of the Faith Stc. Anno 
Domini 1750. Before °John Day, Thomas Cox, George 
Swoops and Patrick Watson, Et^quires, Justices assigned 
&.C. The following persons were by the court appointed 
Overseers of the Poor for the several townships in this 
county. 

York-toiv7i. William Sinklerai]d aPichael Laub. 
Hellam. Caspar Williart and Peter Gardner. 
Ckanceford. Robert Moreton and John Hill. 
Fawn. Alexander AlcCandless and John Gordon. 
Skrewsberry. Hugh Montgomery and Hugh Low. 
Codorus. PetPr Dinkle and John Wothering. 
Manchester. Peter Wolf and Valentms Grans. 



70 HISTORY or YORK COUNTY. 

JSewherry. Nathan Htissey and George Thaulj. 
Dover. Philip (/oiif and AndreviiiPrSpangler. 
Warrington. William Griffith and George Grist. 
Huntingdon, [saac Cook and Archibald M'Grew. 
Monaghan. James Cafothers and George Cohoon. 
Heading. William Wilson and Mathias Maloon. 
Tyrone. Robert Mcllvaine and Finley M'Grew. 
Strahane. David Turner and James Stevenson. 
Menallin. John Gillilandaind John Lawrence. 
Cumberland. Joiin M'Farren and David Porter. 
Uamilton'^s Ban. James Agnew and William Wagh. 
Mountjoij. James Hunter and William Gibson. 
Germany. Jacob Koontz Smitli and Peter Lillle. 
Mountpleasant. William Block and Alexander M'Car- 
ter- 

Heidelberg. Peter Shultz and Andrew Shreiber. 
Bsrwick. Cispir Weiser and George Baker. 
Paradise. Clement Sludebaker and John Rode. 
Manheim. Samuel Bugdel and Solomon Miller.'*' 



ATTORNEYS OF YORK COUNTY. 

Among the attorneys who were admitted at 
York, upon the first opening of the courts of 
the county, were William Peters, John Law- 
rence, George Koss, David Stout, John llen- 
shaw, &c. Those who have been admitted} 
since, are, 1 

Edward Shippen, admitted April 30, 1751 
John Mather, jr. April 30, 1751 

Samuel Morris July 30, 175 1 

Joseph Galloway do. 

Hugh Bay Jan. 28, 1752 

Thomas Olway April 25, 1753 



HISTORT OP TORE COUNTY. 71 

William Parr April 25, 1753 

Eavid Henderson July 29, 2755 

Samuel Johnson Oct. 28, 1755 

James Bisset Jan. 23, 27^9 

William Atlee July 24, 2759 

William M'Clay April 28, 176O 

Lindsay Coates Jan. 29, 2765 

James Reed April 30, 1755 

Jasper Yeates May 29, 2765 

Andrew Allen July 23 2765 

Alexander Wilcox do. 

Henry Eleves ^ do^ 

Eicliard Peters jr. do^' 

Stepiien Porter do. 

James Sayre do. 

Robert Gilbraith Oct. 22, 1765 

William Svveney do. 

Edward Riddle do. 

James Wilson Oct. 27, 1767 

Jacob Moor Jan. 24, 1769 

Thomas Hood do. 

Jacob Rush April 25, 1769 

Stephen Watte do. 

CoL Caspar Witzal do. 

Christian Hoake ' do. 

Thomas Hartley July 25, 1769 

John Hubley July 24, 1770 

James Lukens April 23, 1771 

David Grier do, 

David Espy do. 

Andrew Scott July 23, 1771 

Peter Zachariah Loyd April 28, 1772 

Andrew Ross July 28, 1772 

George Ross jr. July 37, 1773 



72 , HISTORY OP YORK COVtCTf. 

John Eeily 
llobert Buchanan 
John Ste(!raan 
John M'GiU 
Thomas Smith 
Charles 8 ted man 
David M'aMecken 
Jaspar Ewing 
William Barton 
James AVilson 
Col. Thomas Hartley 
Maj. John Clark 
George Noarth 
Col. William Bradford 
Stephen Chambers* 
James Hamilton 
Col. Robert M'Gaw 
Stephen Porter 
Thomas Smith 
John Lawrence 
Mathew M'Alister 
John Wilkes Kittera 
James Riddle 
Jacob Hubley 
Ross Thompson 
Andrew Hun lap 
Joseph Hubly 

* Mr. Chambers was a native of Ireland, whence he came to 
this country before the Kevoliilion. During the war of our inde- 
pendence he signalized himself as a warm and worthy friend of (he 
country; and afterwards was honored with several exalted stations, 
in Pennsylvania. Among other things it may be irentioned that 
he was one ot the council of censors in 1783, and was a member of 
the state convention in 1787. On Monday, the 11th May, 17S9, hd 
received a wound in a duel fought with Dr. Jacob Kieger, ou 
Wednesday ruortincation was discovered, and on Saturday the l6Uk 
9f tbe Sduie mouth, he died »t bis bouse in Laucaster. 



July 27, 


1773 


do. 




Oct. 26, 


1773 


do. 




Jan. 25, 


1774 


do. 




do. 




Oct. 25, 


1774 


April 25, 


1775 


Jan. 26, 


1779 


do. 




April 27, 


1779 


July 27, 


1779 


do. 




April 24, 


1781 


do. 




July 24, 


1781 


July 23, 


1782 


April 29, 


1783 


July 29, 


1783 


do. 




Oct. 28, 


1783 


Jan. 25, 


1785 


do. 




April 26, 


1785 


Oct. 25, 


1785 


do. 





HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 



7S 



James Carson 

William Montgomery 

Peter Huffnagle 

John Joseph Henry 

John Wooils 

John Caldwell 

James Hopkins 

Charles Smith 

James Campbell 

George Fisher 

John Lukens 

Ealph Bowie 

Thomas Nisbit 

John Moore 

Mathias Barton 

John Montgomery 

James Kelly 

David Waltz 

James Orbison 

Samuel Riddle 

John Smith 

Charles Hall 

George Smith 

Mathias Slough 

David Moore 

Jacob Carpenter 

John Ross 

Samuel Roberts 

William Barber 

William Ross 

John Shippen 

Charles William Hartley 

Thomas Elder 

David Cassat 

Parker Campbell 



Jan. 24, 1786 

April 25, 1786 

do. 

do. 

do. 

July 25, 1786 

April 26, 1787 

do. 
July 29, 1788 

do. 

Jan. 27, 1789 

July2«, 1789 

July 29, 1789 

July 30, 1789 

do. 

April 26, 1790 

July 27, 1790 

Oct. 26, 1790 

Jan. 25, 1781 

Jan. 26, 1791 

do. 

April 6, 1791 

do. 

March 7, 1T92 

June 5, 1792 

do. 
June 6, 1792 
do. 
March 2, 1793 
Junes, 1793 
Dec. 2, 1798 
do. 
do. 
March 4, 1794 
June 2* 1*;94 



74 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 



Samuel Scott Gilbraith 


June 2, 1794 


James Smith 


Sept. 7, 1795 


Thomas Baily 


do. 


Thomas B. Zantzinger 


Sept. 4, 1797 


Robert Hays 


Dec. 4, 1797 


Joseph Miller 


March 5, 1798 


Charles Hare 


June 5, 1800 


E^ichard Brooks 


do. 


Andrew Buchanan 


June 18, 1801 


James Dobbins 


June 19, 1801 


John Strohman 


Feb. 19, 1805 


John M'Conaughy 


Feb. 18, 1806 


Bushnell Carter 


April 3, 1810 


Charles A. Barnitz 


Aprils- 1811 


Henry Shippen 


Nov. 5, 1811 


John Gardner 


Aug. 4, 1812 


Jaspar SI ay maker 


Oct. 21, 1814 


John Blanchard 


March 31, 1815 


Samuel Bacon 


April 1815 


James Merrill 


Nov. 3, 1815 


Samuel Merrill 


Oct. 29, 1816 


Thaddeus Stevens 


Nov. 4, 1816 


Edwin A. White 


Dec. 17, 1816 


Daniel Raymond 


Jan. 6, 1817 


Colin Cooke 


April 9, 1817 


Isaac Fisher 


July 28, 1817 


Molton C. Rogers 


March 26, 1816 


Edward Coleman 


do. 


William Gemmill 


» April 6, 1818 


Michael W. Ash 


May 12, 1818 


William H. Brown 


May 11, 1818 


John Wright 


Aug. 9, 1818 


James Lewis 


Aug. 1, 1820 


Daniel Durkee 


Oct. 30, 1820 


William C. Frazer 


do. 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 95 

Thomas Kelly Oct 31, 1820 

Webster Lewis - Dec. £8, 1820 

Walter Franklin, jr. Jan. 2, 1821 

Joseph C. Cohen Jan. 4? 1822 

Jacob A. Fisher — March 28, 1822 

(Jharles B, Penrose July 21? 1822 

John Evans Aug. 3, 1822 

Calvin Mason Aug. 5, 1822 

Henry C. Campbell Aug. 8, 1822 

Charles Worthington Aug. 28, 1822 

Creorge W. Klein Aug. 29, 1822 

John S. Wharton Sept, J 6, 1822 

John Bowie 3N'ov. 4j ]822 

Eman'l C. Reigard Nov. 5, 1822 

James Findlay Jan. 7, 1823 

Henry H. Cassat April 7, 1823 

Samuel M. Barnitz do. 

Edward Chapin April 3, 182S 

F. M. Wadsworth April 15, 182S 

George W. Harris Aug. 6, 182S 

John Smith Nov. a, 1823 

James Anderson do. 

Richard Porter Feb. 17, 1824. 

Xerxes Cash man July 27, 1824 

William C. Carter Aug. 4, 1824 

George A. Barnitz Nov. 16, 1824 

Robert S. King Aug. 1, 1825 

William Miller Aug. 10, 1825 

Morgan Ash May 9, 1826 

James Buchanan Aug. 21, 1826 

David F. Lammot April 2, 1827 

George Heckert May H, 1827 

William B. Donaldson Nov. 7, 1827 

William H. Kurtz Jan. 7, 1828 

Ellis Lewis Jan. 10, 1828 



76 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

Jamrs Kelly March 3, 1828 

Miner T. Leavenworth Aug. 9, 1828 

Robert J. Fisher ISov. 4, 1828 

Benjamin Champneys / do. 

Thomas C. Hambly April 7, 1829 

Kohen M. Lee Aug. 8, 1832 

William W. Haly Sept. 4, 1832 

Ehenezer M'llvame Oct. 15, 1832 

Benjamin Rush Jan. 9, 1833 

Daniel M. Smyser Aug. 7, 1833 

John L Mayer Feb. 20, 1S34 

Xc»hn I. Allen March 5, 1834 

E. G. Bradford April 11, 1834 



CHAPTER IX. 



REVOLUTION. 

There is not n part of Pennsylvania wherein the love of 
liberty displayed itself earlier or more strongly than m the 
county of York. Military companies with a view to the re- 
sisting of Great Britain, were formed in York, \\hilethe 
people of the neigboringcountiee slept. In those days there 
were men here, of broad breast and firm step, who feared 
nopowerand bowed tono dominion. The first company 
that marched from Pennsylvania to the fields of war was a 
compRriy of rifle-men from the town of York : they left 
this place on the first of July 1775. York county sent out 
moie soldiers during the revolution than any one of her 
neighboring sisters. 

We will Jirst mention the companies of the town of 
York before and during the revolution, which, however were 
not formed with the view of being immediately engaged in 



HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 77 

the dangers of war, an^l which, as then constituted, march- 
ed to DO fields of fame. Hundreds of such companies 
were formed throughout the county, but as an enumeration 
of them would be lengthy and tedious, and as they are con- 
nected with no deed of dinger, we will omit all particular 
mention of them, and confine ourselves to the town of 
York. 

As early as Dacembsr 1774, a company was formed im 
the town of York, the object of which was to make soldiers 
who would be well diciplined for battle in case the disafFec* 
(ion then existing towards England, should proceed to o 
pen hostilities. The officers of this company were James 
Smith, Captain, Tliomns Hartley, first Lieutenant, David 
Green, second Lieutenant, and Henry Miller, Ensign. 
Eich of those ofiieers thus early attached to the cause of 
liberty, was much distinguiahed in the subsequent history of 
our country. The fir^st was a signer of the declaration of 
indepenJence; the second was a colonel in the revolution^ 
and for eleven years a member of congress; and the third 
and fourth were each distinguished offic.ers, and "acquired 
a fame and a name" connected with the cause thej 
supported. 

The second r.ompmy formed in the town of York was in 
February 1 775, the o.Ticers of which were H^irtman Deustch, 
Captain ; Mr. Grubb, first Lieutenant; Philip Entler, second 
Lieutenant, and Luke Kause, Ensign. 

In December 1775, the third company was formed m 
York town, euitled "The Independent Light Infantry com- 
pany belonging to the first battdion ol York County.'' 
This company drew up and signed a constitution consist- 
ing cf thirty two articles, the original manuscript of which, 
with the signatures of all the officers and- soldiers, lies now 
before us. k was signed on the ICth of December by 
the following persons, James Smith, Colonel; Thomas 
Hartley, Lieut. Colonel; Joseph Donaldson, Major; Mi- 
chael Swoope, Major; George Irwin, Captain ; John Hay^ 
first Lieut.; William Baily, second Lieut.; Chrisloph Lauman, 
Ensign; Paul Metzgar, Henry Walter, Jacob Girdner, and 
John Shultz. Sergeants ; and Wdliam Scott, Clerk : then 
follow the names of one hundred and twenty two persons, 
private soldiers, a catalogue of which would be too lengthy. 
This company was coirimandcd in 1777 by WilUana Baily^ 



79 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 



Ctplain; Cliristoph Laiimin, first Lieut., and William Soofl, 
secori.J Lieut.— Mr. J..hn H .y b.ing elected a member of 
the state convent. on held in thdtyear. 

Conpani.'s were alrendy form' d throughout all the 
county, and every thing si)oke of free-nen under arms for 
hluTty. B It confining (ourselves to Y .rk-lovvn, we will 
mention the other companies which were formed here at 
the corn.nence.nent of the revoi-tion. The fourtk compa- 
ny was fonned m the sprini^of 1776,& its offi -ers, were Mi- 
chael Hahn, Captain; B diz.^r S,rnorler, first Lieut.; Michael 
Bdlmeyer second L.eut.; and G orge Michael Spengler, 
±.nsio[n. I he A//A campanv was likewise forined in the 
spring of 1776, whereof Charles Lukens was C.ptain; 
Christian Stake first Lieutenaui; and Cornelius Sherift' 
second Lieut, The slxt/i company was formed in 
May of ih^ same year, and was commanded by Ciptain 
Rudolph Spangler. The first and second companies form- 
ed in town, hai long since been d.ssolved, and the soldiers 
thereof join.d and becau.e a pnri of the fifth and sixth com- 
panies: so that in June 1776, th re were four ditftrent mil- 
itary associations of the town of York. Theiih^ird, fourth, 
hlth, and sixths companies constituted a part of tho^e five 
bntfali<ms which mirdied to New^Jersey in 1776 to form 
the flymorcamp. Though they tiius marched out of the 
county yet it was to no warlike field; the only oKject be- 
jng to form other companies, which shall be mentioned in 
their places. 

We will sccondhj consider the companies, composed of 
the citizens both of York-town and York countv, which 
were formed with a view for actK.l serv.ce, and which shar- 
€d in the dangers and glory of the revolution. 

l.The first company to be mentioned is the rifl,3.compa- 
ny already alluded to, which hft York on the IstofJuly 
3775, and marched directly to Cnnbridge near Boston It 
was at first commanded by Capt iu Mk hael Doudle, who 
nowever was soon succeeded by h.s first Lienlenant, Henry 
Miller. Those who belonged to this company may be called 
e^nlisted volunteers; for tney actu dly enlisted and bound 
themselves to military service for the space of one year, and 
this they did ^'of their own heads,^' without being required 
or even so much as requested thereto by the state or bv 
Cojigreis. 



History of york county. 79 

i. In 1776 the co-inties of Yjrk and Ci'nbeilinrl were 
2-eqaired each to raise four co-npsinies for the forming of a 
regiment. Of this reffimeni, Wiiiium Irwine, at first, was 
Coionei; Thiinis Hirtley, Lieut. Colonel ; and J^mes 
Danlap, Maj >r. Of the four companies raised in York 
county, David Grier was Capta n of the first, IVI »ses VI'Lean, 
of the second, Archibald .VrAllister, of the tliird, the name 
of thecapt. of the fourth vve cannot give. These c )n)|)anies, 
which were enhsted for fifteen months left the county to fol- 
low the f tie of war in the latter end of Vlnrch. In the year 1777 
this rejim^nt formed the 1 Ith regiment of the Pennsylva- 
nialine, and itsoficerswereTliomas H utley, Colonel; David 
Grier, Lieut. Colonel ; and Lewis Biish, Major, 

3. Eirly in Miy 1776, a rifle co npany wnich had been 
enlisted to serve fifteen months marched from the connty of 
York to Philidelphia, where it was attached to Colonel 
Miles'* Ilifle Regiment. The Captain of this company was 
William M'Pnerson; and the third Lieut, was Jacob Stake. 

4. Fa July 1776, five battalions of militia marched from 
York County to NdW Jersey. Oat of these five battalions 
there were formed in about six weeks after their arrival, 
iwo battalions of the flying camp: those who did not be- 
long to the camp returned home. The reason of so many 
more than there was occasion for, being called forth from 
all the counties seems to have been firstly to try the spirit 
of the people, and secondly to show the enemy the power 
of the nation they warred against. 

As the flving camp is closely connected with the lionourg 
and thesuff^erings of many men in this county, we wdl briefly 
state its history. Congress, on the 3d of June, 1776, -^lie- 
solved, that a Flying Camp be immeliately established in 
the middle colonies, and that it consist of 10,000 mpn:'"to 
complete which number, it was resolved, that the colony of 
Pennsylvania be required to furnish of the militia, 6, 000 

Maryland, 3, 409 
Delaware, 600 



10,000 
The militia were to be engfiged until the 1st of Decem- 
ber following, that is, about six months. The conference 
of committees for Pennsylvania, then held at Philadelphia, 
resolved on the 14th of June, that 4500 of the militia 



80 HISTORY OF rORK COUNTY. 

should be embodied, wliich, with the 1500 then in the pay 
of the province, would make 6000, the quota required by 
Congress. The safne conference on the 25th, recommend- 
ed to the associutors of York county to furnish 400 men. 
Thus York county furnishing 400 

Tlie other counties, and Philadelphia city, in all 4 100 
Troops under Coi. Miles, 1500 



Made 6000 

The Convention of the state, on the 12th of August, re- 
solved to add four addiiional battalions to the Flying Camp, 
York county being required to furnish 5 1 5 men toward 
making out the ntimber of 2984, the amount of the four 
new b'ittiiions. O.i the same day, Col. George Ross, Vice 
President of the Convention, Col. Thomas Matlack of Phil- 
adelphia, and Col. Henry Sjhiegel, of York county, were 
chosen, by ballot, cotnaiissioners to go to head quarters iu 
New Jersey, and fortn the flying Camp. 

The Flying Cimp was accordingly soon formed: it con- 
sisted of three brigades. The brigidier general of the 
first brigade was Ja/ne.s E»ving of York county; his brigade 
consisted of three battalioiis, the first of which was com- 
manded by Col. Swope of York County, the second, by 
Col. Bull of Chester county; and the third by Col. Watts 
of Cumberland coimty, fither of the late David Watts Esq. 
of Carlisle. Of the other brigades and butdions, we are 
not at present able to speak with much certainty. 

As the two battalions forme. 1 from the five battalions of 
York county militia which marched to JSew Jersey, under- 
went the hard fate of severe war, wc will be somewhat 
particular concerning them. 

The officers of the Jir'it battalion were Col. Michael 
Swope, Lieut. Col. R.)bert Stevenson, and IM ijor William 
Daily. It wa-^ composed of eight companies, of each of 
which we will give the names of the officers, as far as we 
have been able to learn them*. 

1st Company. — Michael Schmeiser, Ciptain. 

; Zacharinh Shugart, First Lieut. 
Andrew Robinson, Second LieuL 
William Wayne, Ensign. 
IW Company. — Gerhart Graeff, Captain. 
LieuteQint Kaufifman. 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 81 

8d Company. — Jacob Dritt, Captain. 
Baymiller, First Lieut. 
Clayton, Second Lieut. 
Jacob Mnyer, En^^ip^n. 
4th Company — Christian Stake, Captain. 

Cornelius Sheriff, First Lieut. 
Jacob Holtzinger, Second Lieut, 
Jacob Barnitz, Ensign. 
5th Company.— John McDonald, Captain. 
William Scott, First Lieut. 
Robert Patten, Second Lieut. 
Ensign Howe, 
6th Company. — John Ewing, Captain. 
John Paysley, Ensian. 
7th Company. — William Nelson, (^aptaip. 
Todd. First Lieut. 
Joseph Welsh, Second Lieut. 
Nesbit, Ensign. 
8th Company. — Captain Williams. 
The officers of the second battalion ware Col. Richard 
McAlister (father of Archibald McAlister, already mention- 
ed) Lieut. Col. David Kennedy, and Major John Clark* 
The Captains were Bittinaer, McCarter, McCoskey, Laird, 
Wnison and Paxton, from York county. To this battalion 
were added two companies from the county of Bucks. 
Thus each battalion consisted of eight companies. 

The above list, as to both batt dions, is very imperfect ; 
but there is not a document in existence by which it can 
be made better. The above information, as likewise nearly 
all that follows, has been communicated to us by a few men 
of silvered hairs, whose memories are still fresh with res- 
pect to the warlike hardships and dangers of their more 
youthful days. 

The battalion of Col. Swope suffered as severely as any 
one during the revolution. 
The company of Gerhart Graeff belonging to that regi- 

* We perceive, by a number of letters, now in our posseseion, 
from Gen. Washiniijton, and Gen Greene, ^-c, to Major CJark, 
that the latter gentleman stood very hi^h in the confidence and 
esteem of the American commander in chief. He was employed, 
during the war, in dutie? for which no individual would have 
been selected who was not deemed true as steel. 



62 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

ment was taken at the baJtle of Long Island, and but eigh- 
teen of the men retunied to join the regiment. Not one 
of this company is now alive. 

But the place which proved the grave of their hopes was |{ 
Fort AVashington, on the Hudson, near the city of New- * 
York. The officers belonging to Swope's battalion, that 
were taken at that place on the 16th of November 1776, 
were the following fourteen. Col. Michael Swope, Major 
AViliiam Baily, Surgeon Humphrey Fullerton, Gapt. Mi- 
chael Schmeiser, Capt. Jacob Dntt. Capt. Christian Stake* 
('apt. John McDonald, Lieut. Zachariah Shtiorard, Lieut. 
Jacob Holtzinger, Lieut. Andrew Rouinsou, Lieut. Robert 
Patten, Lieut. Joseph Welsch. Ensign Jacob Barnitz, Ensign 
and A<ljutant Howe, Etisign Jacob Meyer. Of the company 
of Capt. St;ike, we are enabled to give the names of those, 
beside the three officers already mentioned, who were 
taken prisoners: they were Serj. Pater Haak, Scrj. John 
Dicks, Serj. Henry Counselman, Corp. Jolm Adlum, David 
Parker, James Dobbins, Hugh Dobbins, Henry Miller (now 
living in Virginia) John Sirohman, Christian Strohman, 
James Berry, ^^oseph Bay, Henry Hof, Joseph Updegraff, 
Daniel Miller, Menry Shultze, Bill Lukens, a mulatto, and 
a waiter in the company — with perhaps some more. The 
company of Capt. Stake consisted mostly of spirited and 
high-minded young men from the town of York and its vi- 
cinity. 

Though each party suffered much, and the mutual slaugh- 
ter was great, yet but two officers of the flying ramp were 
wounded on that day. The first was Capt. McC.irter, who 
was from the neighborhood of Hanover, and was about 
twenty two years of age. He belonged to the battalion of 
Col. McAlister, and commanded the piquet guard, when he 
was shot through the breast, ids wounded fellow officer, 
who lay by his side,sHw him stiffened in death on the fifth 
day. The other was ensign Jacob Barnitz, of the town of 
York. Mr. Barnitz was wounded in both legs, and laid for 
fifteen months a comfortless prisoner without hope, his 
wounds still unhealed and festering. After his return he 
lived for years to enjoy the confidence and esteem of his 
fellow citizens; but, after sufferings which wrung him to 
the soul, he was oblicjed to commit himself to the skill of 
the surgeon, and to suffer the loss of one of those members 



m STORY OP YORK COUPfTY. 85 

which had once borne the hero and the patriot, as he proud- 
ly waved to the winds the ensign of the countrjf's libertyj 
*'The stars and stripes, 
"The banner of the free heart's only home." 



CHAPTER X. 

PENSIOIVERS. 

Congress on the 18th of March 1818, passed "an act to 
provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval 
service of the United States in the Revohitionary war." 
We wiii here mention those of the inhabitants of York 
county, who became United States' Pensioners under 
this act and its supplement, and who were alive at the pas- 
sage of the act. 

John Schneider^ served in Col. Hartley's regiment, Cap- 
tain Orier's company from 1 1th Nov. 1775 until the end of 
one year and three months. He afterwards served in the 
regiment commanded by Col. Haren, in capt. Turner's com- 
pany, from the early part of the year 1777 until the end of 
the wrr. In 1818 aged 67. 

Christian Pepret^ served in Col. Butler's regiment, in 
captain Bush's company from the year 1779 until the close 
of the war. In 1818, aged 67. 

John Jacob Bauer ^ served in the first Pennsylvania regiment 
commanded by Col. Chambers, in Capt. James Wilson's 
company, from September 1774 until the close of the war. 
In 1818, aged 73. 

John I)eis^ served in Captain David Grier's company, 
in the regiment commanded by Col. Hartley from March 
1776 until the end of one year. In 1818, aged 62. 

George Lingenfelder, served in Capt. Michael McGuire'fl 
company, in Col. Brooks regiment, of Maryland, from June 
1780 until the close of the war. At the Battle of Brandy- 
wine he was severely wounded. In 1818, aged 59. 

David Ramsey^ served in the 1st Rifle Regement under 
Col. Edward Hand, the company under Capt. Henry Milled 



84 HISTORY OF YOnK COUNTY. 

from 1st of July 1775 until July i776. Being then dis- 
charged, he joined Col. Mannum's regiment, and was in 
service imiil tyken prisoner at the battle of Brandywine. 
Besides this battle he was present and took a part in those 
of Bunker's Hill, Long Island, and of Flat Bush, 
at one of which he was wounded in the head. Tn 
1818, aged 69. 

Hmwphrcy Andrev^s, enli?ted in Chester county, Penn- 
sylvania, on 26th January 1776 for the term of one year,iQ 
the company then commanded by Capt. James Taylor, in 
the 4th Pennsylvania regiment, romnianded by Col. Antho- 
ny Wayne. From Chester county, he marched by the way 
of New York, Albany, T iconderoga, and Crown Point, |. 
to Montreal, at which j)ldce they met the troops under |l 
Gen. Thompson wh< were returning from the battle at the 
three Rivtrs. He thence returned,, with his fellow soldiers, 
to Crown Point, where he remained until 24lh January 
1777, stationed between the two armies of Burgoyne and 
Howe. Marching to old Chester in Pennsylvania, he was 
discharged on 25th Feb. 1777. Andrews was engaged in a 
skirmish with the British in Nov. 1776. In 1818, aged 
63. 

Jacob Mayer enlisted in York county, served in Col. 
Wagner's regiment, in the company commanded by C'^pt. 
James Taylor from Feb. 1776 until the end of one year, 
when he was discharged at Chester. In 1828, aged 67. 

Robert Ditcher^ enViaUd in the spring of 1777 in Capt. 
James Lee's company of Artillery then in Philadelphia, at- 
tached to the regiment commanded by Col. Laub. He 
was present and took a paft in the battles of White Plains, 
Staten Island, Monmouth, Mud Island, and Grermantown, 
and was several times wounded. In 1818, aged 57. 

John Taylor, enlisted in F<b. 1778 at Mount. Holly in 
N. Jersey in the company of Capt. John Cummings, and in 
the 2d regiment of the New Jersey line attacted to the brig- 
ade commanded by General Maxwell; and he continued 
in service until Oct. 1783, when he was discharged near » 
Morristown in that state. He was at the battle of Mon- fi 
mouth, and at the capture of Cornwallis at York-town: he ' 
likewise served as a volunteer at the storming of Stony 
Point by Gen. Wayne, at which tirne he was slightly wound- 
ed. In 18X8^ aged 71, 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 85 

Dediove Shadow, served from the spring of 1776 until 
the close of the war, in Congress regiment commanded by 
Col. Moses Hazen, in the company commanded by Capt*. 
Duncan. In 1818, aged 62. 

James Hoo-^^served from 26th Jan. 1779 in the 1st regi- 
ment of the Maryland line, commanded at first by Col. 
Smallwood, and afterwards by Col. Stone. His company 
was at first that of Capt. Nnthaniel Ramsey, and afterwards 
that of Cnpt. Hazen. In 1818, aged 63. 

Michael Shultze^ served in Col. Hartley's regiment and 
in Capt. Gner's company from Jan. 1776 for the term oi 
one year. In 1818, aged 6l. 

Maihias Kraut, served in the 10th regiment of the Penn- 
sylvania line, commanded by Captain Stout, from the year 
1776 until theclose of the war. In 1818, aged 58. 

Thomas Randolph, served in the 7th regiment of the 
Virginia Jine commanded by Col. M'Lellan, in the company 
by Capt. Peasey from the year 1775 until 1778. In 1818, 
aged 71. "The soldiers Friend" thus describes this oldl 
pensioner in 1818. Thomas Randolph — better known, 
here as old Tomn)y Randall, the stariding bugbear of chil- 
dren and likely to rival the mod celebraied '•'Boog-a-boos'' 
of any past age. We sincerely hope his sooty note of 
*sweep O' — 'sweep O' will soon be excharged for more 
cheerful ones. Indeed he has scarcely a note of any kind 
left, as he is now a tenant of the poor house, havmg been 
some time ago gathered to that promiscuous congregation 
of fatherless, motherless, sisterless, brotherless, houseless 
and friendless beings, each of whom is little less than czV 
iliter mortuus, 

Samuel Ramble, served in the 1st Regiment of the Vir- 
ginia line, under Col. Campbell, in the company comman- 
ded by Capt. Moss, during the three last years of the war. 
In 1818, aged 60. 

-^ Frederick Boyer, served in the detachment under Col. 
Almori from 1777 until 1779, when he enlisted in a corps 
of cavalry under Capt. Selincki, and under the command of 
Gen. Pulaski*, he served in the corps until nearly the whole 
of it was destroyed. In 1818, aged «7. 

Henry Loll, served in the first regiment of the Penn- 
sylvania line under Col. Stewart, and in the company under 
Capt. Shade, for about one year. In 1818, aged 71. 
M 



3$ HISTORY OP YORK COUNTT. 

John ZiOcfccre, served in Col. Proctor's regiment of Ar- 
tillery in the Pennsylvania line, in the company ofCapt 
Buffie from June 1777 until June 1779. In 1818, a- 
ged 66. 

Thomas Burke^ served in the tOth rpgiment of the Penn- 
sylvania line commanded by Lieut. Col. Hazen, from June 
1778 unt.l 1781c In 18 J8, aged 58. 

Jacob Kramer^ served in the regiment commanded by 
Capt. Hauseckcr, and afterwards by Col. Weltman, in the 
company commanded by Capt Paulsell and afterwards by 
Capt. Boyer. The term of his service was from l9ih July 
i776» until I9th July 1779. In 1818, aged 62. 

Joseph Wreriy served in the 7th regiment of the Penn- 
sylvania line, in the company ofcapl. Wdson, from Jan» 
11777 until the close of the war. In 1818, aged 80. Jo- 
seph Wren made his original application for a i)ension 
through Samuel Bacon, formerly an attorney of York. 
Mr. Bacon thus writes concerning the old soldier in 
1818. 

^^Joseph Wren. — This old man's body and spirit seem to 

be equally light. He can travel his thirty miles a d^y with 

ease. Hi's appearance reminds you of the E<|;yptian fllnm- 

oiies so celebrated for their fresh and life-like apj)earance 

after the Inpse of centuries. Durmg the deluge (not Noah's 

flood, nor yet Ducalion's, as you might have supposed from 

his ancient date, but the dehige which buried a tliird 

part of our town in ruins, on the ever memoriable 9lh of 

August 1817) old Wren, like the lively little bird of his owa 

name, perched himself in a snug corner of the garret of a 

two- story house, and went to sleep. The house rose OQ 

the bosom of the deep, plunged all but the garret into the 

waves, and was dashed from surge to surge till it lodged a- 

gainst a tree. Five persons were drowned! side by side 

they lay in a room of the second story of the house. Joseph 

slept on. At lenuth when the God of nature held out tho 

olive branch of hope to the terror-struck tenants of the 

roofs of the tottering houses, and the flood subsided so that 

*'lhe dry land appeared'' — when the mighty ocean that 

ISiad been as it were created in a moment and precipitated 

upon us, gathered itself into the mild and unassuming Co- 

dorus again, Joseph's abode of death, when youth and 

healthy and female excellence aad maoi/ virtue^ iiad beea 



HISTORY OF YORK COUKTY. 87 

bnried in the waves, was visited, — and stiii he slept. 
When he awakened he rubbed his eyes, not ceitain whether 
they were his own, or wlitther he was Joseph Wren any 
more: for he knew not where he was, unless it might be 
in some place on the (ithtr side of the grave. Thus, indeed 
has Joseph Wren h;id hair breadth 'scapes, in the forest 
wild and city fuil, and is spared lobe made glad by some- 
thing very unlike the ingratitude of republics." 

Conrad Puddins:^ served in Annand's Legion, in Capt, 
Sheriff's company from the spring of 1781, until the fall of 
1783, when the army was disbanded. In 1818, aged 64. 

Michael Warner^ served in Capt. Jacob Bower's com- 
pany of the Pennsylvania line from Oct. 1781 until Oct» 
1783, In 1818, aged 59. 

John Devinny^ served in the 4th reginnent commanded by 
Col. Anthony Wayne, in Cspt. Tiioiuas Robinson's compa- 
ny from the fall of 1775 until the clc»se of one year, at which 
time he entered in the 5th regitneit, in Capt. Butholemew's 
company in whirh he continued to serve until the cicse of 
the war. In 1818, aged 62. 

William Brown^ enli-ted at Philadelphia in the autumn 
of 1777 for the term ot three years, in the company com- 
manded by Ca|t. John Doyle and the 1st regiment of the 
Pennsylvania line commanded by Col. Hand. He was at 
the battle of Brandywine, nt the taking of the Hessians at 
Trenton, and at the bitile of Princeton, Monmouth, Stony 
Point and Paoli at the last of which he received several 
wounds. Having continued to serve six yeaiiB, he was 
discharged at Lancaster. In 1818, aged 73. 

John Beaty^ served in the 6th Pennsylvania regiment 
commanded by Col. Irwin, in the company of Abrahann 
Smith from Feb. 1776 until Feb. 1777. Jn 1818, aged 
6S. 

John OhmeU served in the lOlh regiment of the Pennsyl- 
vanja line, commanded by Col. Richard Hampton, in the 
company of Capt. Hicks, from May 1777 until the close of 
the war. In 1818, aged 60. 

Jacob M''Lean^ served in Col. Hausccker's regiment 
called the '*Gtrman R«ginient," in the company of Capt. 
Benjaniin Weiser, from July 1776 until the year 1779, In 
1818, aged 60. 

Frederick Huebntr, gerved in Gen. Arraaod's legioDj m 



8S HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

the company of Capt. Barron for the term of about throe 
years. In 1818, aged 64. 

Mam Scliulim2n, served in the 5t!i Pennsylvania regi- 
ment command jd by Col. Richard Butler in Capt. A^alker's 
company commanded by Lieut. Feld.im, from the S^jring of 
1776 until the close of the war. In 1818, aged 66. 

Joel Gray^served in CjI. fl irtiey's regiment of the Penn- 
sylvania line,inthe com )any ofCipt-B ish,from Ol. 1778, 
until the 1st of April 1781.' In 1818,aged75. Poor Joel 
was a client of Mr. Bicon, who thus writes of him in 1818. 
"Joe! Gray — He may indeed be addressed in the style of 
the old ballad, and they may make tne same response. 

why do you shiver and shake Gaffer Gray ? 
And why does your nose look so blue ? 

1 am grown very old, 
And the weather 'tis cold, 

And my doublet is not very new." 

This old man, in 1818, says: •'! have one chest worth a- 
bout a dollar. I have no trade or any business whatsoever. 
I have no children or friend-s to give me any kind of assis- 
tance. My pension and the poor-house are all I have to de- 
pend upon." 

Michael FFeiric/?, served in the 6th regiment of the iMa- 
ryland line under Col. Williams and Col. Stewart, and in 
the company of Capt. Rebelle, during the last five years of 
the war. In 1818, aged 64. 

Zenos Macomber^ served in Col. C irter''s regiment from 
May 1775*untd January, 1776, when he enlisted in Col. 
Bond's regiment of the iVIassachusetis line. Having served, 
in this regiment about two months, he was removed audi 
placed in Gen. Washington's foot guard. Here he contin- ' 
lied until Jan. 1777 when he enlisted in Gen. Washington's 
horse guard in which he served three years. In 1818, a- 
ged 61. 

Anthony Ze/iwan, served in the 5th regiment of the Penn- 
sylvania Ime under Col. M'Gaw, in the company of Capt. 
Deckart, from Feb. 1775 until Jan. 1777. In 1818, aged 
65. 

Samuel Spicer^ served in the 10th regiment of thePenn- 
sylvania line, under Co\. Hi/npton, in Capt. Weaver^'s com 
pany, for about one year before the close of the war 
3818, aged 81. 



^ 



HISTORY OF YORK COViTTr. 89 

Christopher JSTerr, served in the 2d regiment of the 
Pennsylvania line commanded by Col. Stewart, under Capt, 
Patterson, from April 1777 until Jan. 1780. In 1818, a^^ed 

65. ° 

William Smithy served in the 2d regiment of the Penn- 
sylvania line, under Capt. Watson from Feb. 1776 until the 
expiration of one year. Being then in Canada, he returned 
home, and enlisted in the 4th regiment of the Pennsylvania 
Jine commanded by Col. William Butler, in Capt.^Bird^s 
company. In 1818, aged 69. 

Martin Muller, served in Count Pulaski's legion, iri 
Capt. Saleski's company, far the term of eighteen monthd. 
In 1318, aged 69. 

Ludwig fValtman, served in the 6th regiment of ^3 
Pennsylvania line, commanded by Col. Butler, in the cwn- 
pany of Capt. Bush, from the fall of 1777 for the term of three 
years and a half. In 1818, aged 60. 

William Kline, served in Col. Wayne's regiment, in Capt. 
Frasers company,. from Dec. 1775 until March 1777. Jn 
2818, aged 63. 



CHAPTER Xf. 

CONGRESS. 

York is somewhat connected with the history of the 
continental congress,, for that bodj sat here some months 
during the revolution. It is to this that General La-Faj- 
ette alluded when, being in York on the 2d of February 
1825, he called it *nheseat of the American Union in our 
most gloomy times." 

On the 14th of September 1777, Congress, then sitting 
at Philadelphia, and having strong reasons to believe that 
thatcity would soon be in possession of the British, resolv- 
ed that, if they should be obliged to remove from Philadel- 
phia, Lancaster should be the place where they would 
meet On the 18th of September Congress sat as usual, 
and after having fulfilled the regular hours of daily servicej 
H 2 



90 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

adjinrned to 10 o'clock the next morning; but during the 
adjournment the president received a letter from Col. Ham- 
ilton, one of Gen. Washington's aids, which intimated 
the necessity of removing the Congress immediately from 
Philadelphia. Upon this the members left the city, and 
agreeably to a former resolution, repaired to Lancaster. 
Philadelphia was shortly afterwards, viz. on the 27th of 
September, taken by Sir William Howe, which shewed the 
wisdom and foresight of Congress in leaving that cap- 
ital. 

Congress met at Lancaster on the 27th of September, 
(the very day Philadelphia was taken) but as they had good 
reascms for fearing molestation even in that place, they 
determined that the Susquehanna should flow between 
tliAn and the enemy, and accordingly, on the same day, 
adjourned to York.* The lirst day of their session at 
York was the 30th of September 1777. 

Congress continued about nine months, to hold their 
sessions in this place and in the same court house which 
now stands. In June 1778, the British evacuated Philadel- 
phia and marched into New Jersey, and of this congress 
received information on the 20th of the same month, by 
a letter from Gen. Washington. They sat in York but a 
few days longer, for on Saturday the 27th of Junel77S they 
adjourned to Philadelphia, at which place they met on the 
7lh of July following. 

Among the other business transacted by Congress during 
its session in York, we find the following items recorded in 
the Journals: 

October 4, 1777. 

Resolved, that a letter be written to General Gates, in- 
forming him that Congress highly ajjprove of the prowess and 
behaviour of the troops under his command, in their late 
gallant repulse of the enemy under General B'trgoyne. 

Jiesolvedf That the thanks of Congress be presented to 

• The treasury books, papers, money &c. were carried from 
Philadelphia to Bristol, and round by Heading to Lancaster, and 
tb«nc« to Yorktown. 

. See Journal of Congress for JVb». 28, 1777- 

This circuitous rout was on account of fear that they should 
fall into the hands of the enemy, who were at that time in Ches 
itr county still fresh Irom the battle of Brandywine. 



HISTORY OP YORK Cv)UNTT. §1 

General Stark of the New-Hampshire militia, and the offi- 
cers and troops under his command, for their brave and 
successful attack upon, and signal victory over the enemy 
in their linesat Benningttm; and that Brigadier Stark he ap- 
pointed a Brigadier General in the army of the Unit* d * 
States. 

October 6, 1777. 

Resolved^ That it be recommended to the legislatures of 
the several stat(^s to pass laws, declaring that any person, 
his aider or abettor, who shall wilfully and maliciously 
burn or destroy, or attempt or conspire to burn or destroy, 
any magazine of provisions, or of military or naval stores, 
belonging to tlie United States; or if any master, officer, 
seaman, mariner or other person, intrusted with the navi^ra- 
tion or care of any continental vessel, shall wilfully and 
maliciously burn or destroy or attempt or conspire to burn 
or destroy, any such vessel, or shall wilfully betray, or vol- 
untarily yield or deliver, or attempt to conspire to betray, 
yield or deliver, any such vessel to the enemies of the U- 
nited States, such person his aider or abettor, on legal con- 
viction ther^ofshall suffer death without benefit of clergy. 
October 8, 1777. 

JReiolved^ Unanimously, that the thanks of Congress be 
given to General Washington fur his wise and well concert- 
ed attack upon the enemy's army near Germantown on the 
4th instant, and to the officers and soldiers of the army for 
their brave exertions on that occasion : Congress being well 
satisfied that the best designs and boldest efforts may some- 
times fail by unforseen incidents, trusting that on future oc- 
casions the valour and virtue of the army will by the bles- 
sing of heaven be crowned with complete and deserved 
iuccess, 

October 14, 1777. 

Whereas the British nation have received into their ports, 
and condenmed in their courts of admiralty as lawful prize 
several vessels and their cargoes belonging to these states, 
which the mariners, in breach of the trust and confidence 
reposed in them, have betrayed and delivered to the officers 
of the British crown: 

Resolved^ therefore. That any vessel or cargo, the proper- 
ty of any British subject, not an inhabitant of Bermuda or 



d1 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

of any of the Bahama Islands, brought into any of the ports 
or harbours of any of these United States by the masters or 
mariners, sliall be adjudged a lawful prize &. divided among 
the captors in the same proportion as if taken by any con- 
» tinental vessel of war. 

October 17, 1777. 
Resolved, That the committee of intelligence be authori- 
sed to t^ke the most speedy and effectual measures forget- 
ting a printing press erected in Yorktown, for the purpose 
of conveying to the public tJie intelligence that Congress 
jnay from time to time receive. 

October 31, 1777. 
Tlie secretary laid before Congress a copy of the speech 
with which Mr. Hancock took leave of Congress, which 
was ordered to be entered on the Journals and is as fol' 
lows : 

^Gentlemen, Friday last completed two years and five 
months since you did me the honor of electing me to fill 
this chair. As I could never flatter myself your choice pro- 
ceeded from any idea of my abilities, but rather from a par- 
tial opinion of my attachment to the liberties of America, 
ifelt myself under the strongest obligations to discharge the 
duties of the office, and 1 accepted the appointment with 
the firmest resolution to go through the business annexed 
to it in the best manner 1 was able. Every argument con- 
spired to make me exert myself, and I endeavored by indus- 
try and attention to make up for every other deficiency. 

*As my conduct both in and out of Congress in the 
execution of your business, it is improper for me to say 
anything. You are the best judges. But I think I shall 
be forgiven if I say I have spared no pains, expense, or la- 
bour to gratify your wishes, and to. accomplish the views of 
Congress. 

*My health being much impaired, I find some relaxa- 
tion absolutely necessary after such constant application ; 
I must therefore request your indulgence for leave of ab- 
sence for two months. 

*But I cannot take my departure, gentlemen, without ex- 
pressing my thanks for the civility and politeness I have ex- 
perienced from you. It is impossible to mention this with- 
out a heart felt pleasure. 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. ^3 

*If in the course of so long a period as I have had the 
honor to fill this chair, any expressions may have dropped 
from me that may have given the least offence to any mem- 
ber, as it was m^t intentional, so I hope his candor will 
pass it over. 

Olay every happiness, gentlemen, attend you, both as 
members of this house and as individuals; and I pray Hea- 
ven that unanimity and j)erseverance may go hand in hand 
in this house; and that every thing which raay tend to dis- 
tract or divide your councils be for ever banislied.' 

It was then resolved ''That the thanks of Congress be 
presented to John Hancock, esquire, for the unremitted at- 
tention and steady impariiality which he has manifested 
in discharge of various duties of his office as president 
since his election to the chairon the 24th day of May 1775.'"* 
November 1, 1777. 

Congress proceeded to the election of a president; and 
the ballots being taken, 

The honorable Henry Laurens wa? elected. 
November 4, 1777. 

Jhsolved^ That the thanks of Congress in their own 
name, and in behalf of the inhabitants of the thirteen Uni- 
ted States, be presented to Major General Gates, comman- 
der in chief in the northern department, and to the Majors 
General Lincoln and Arnold and the rest of the officers 
and troops under his command, for their brave and suc- 
cessful efforts in support of the independence of their coun- 
try, whereby an army of the enemy of ten thousand men 
has been totally defeated, one large detachment of it, 
that strongly posted and entrenched, having been conquer- 
ed at Bennington, another repulsed with loss and disgrace 
from fort S huyler, and the main army of six thousand 
men, under Lieut. General Burgoyne, after being beaten in 
different actions and driven from a formidable post and 
strong entrenchments, reduced to the necessity of sur- 
rendering themselves upon terms lionorableand advantage- 
ous to these stales on the 1 7th day of Qf'tober last, to Major 
General Gates; and that a medal' of gold be struck under 
the direction of (ho board of war in commemoration of this 
great event, and in the name of these United States presen- 
led by the president to Major General Gates. 



94 HISTORY or TORK COUNTY. 

Resolved, That GeoRral '.Vashington be informer!, it is 
highly agreeable to Congress tliat the Marquis De La Fayette 
be appointed to the command of a diviiion in the conti- 
nental array. 

December U, 1777. 

The board of war report, "that in their opinion the pub- 
lic interest will be promoted by erecting in the town of 
York, temporary barracks or sheds sjfficient for containing 
six hundred men, for the purpose of accommodating such 
recruits and other troops as m;iy be from time to timo 
stationed or det lined at the said pi ice, either as guards or 
for the purpose of equipmerjt and discipline:" whereupon 

Resolved^ That the bonrd of war be directed to cause the 
said barracks or sheds to be erected, with all possible dis- 
patch, and in the most reasonable manner they can de- 
vise. 

January 14, 1778. 

Whereas baron Steuben, a lieutenant general in foreign 
service, has in a mo-^t disinterested and heroic manner of- 
fered his services to these states in the quality of a volun- 
teer; 

Resolved, That the president present the thanks of. Con- 
gress in behalf of these United States to barj)n Steu!)en, for 
the zeal he has nhown for the cause of America, & the disin- 
ested tender he has been pleased to make of his military 
talents; & inform him, that Congress cheerfully accept of his 
Bervice as a volunteer in thp army of these stntcs, and wish 
him to repair to General Wabhington's quarters as soon as 
convenient. 

February 6. 1778. 

That Mathew Clarkson and Mnjor John Clark bn appoint- 
ed auditors fur the army under the command of General 
Washington; nnd that they be authorised to appoint two 
clerks, and allow each of them fifty dollars a month and 
two rations a day. 

March 28, 1778. 
Resolved^ That count Pulaski retain his rank of brigadier 
in the army of the United Slates, and that he raise and have 
the command of an independent corps to consist of sixty- 
eight horse, and two hundred foot, the horse to be armed 
with lances, and the foot equipped io thejnanner of light tn- 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTIT. 95 

fantry : tlie corrs to be raised in such way and composed 
of such men as Gene ral Washington shall think expedient 
and proper ; and if it shall be thought by General Wash- 
ington, that it will not be injurious to the service, that ho 
have liberty to dispense in this particular instance with the 
resolve of Congress against enlisting deserters. 
June 12, 1778. 

Congress being informed that Mr. P.Livingston, one of 
the delf gat{ s for the state of New-York, died last night, 
and that circumstances require hhn to be interred this ©- 
vening ; 

Resolved, That Congress will in a body attend the fu- 
neral tliis evening at six o'clock, with a crape round the 
arm, and will continue in mourning for the space of cue 
month. 

June 27, 1778. 

Adjourned to Thursday next, to meet at the State-House 
in Philadelphia. 

In conclusion of this article we will mention the mem- 
bers of congress from York county, under the Constitution 
of the United States, done in convention on the 17th of 
September 1787. 

Thomas Hartley was the first: he was elected in 1788, 
and continued a member of Congress until the lime of his 
death, on the 21st of December 1800. 

John Stewart, was elected by special election on the 
15th of January 1801, to supply the place of Thomas Hart- 
ley deceased; and was re-elected in October 1802. 

James Kelly was elected in October 1804, and was re- 
elected in October 1806. 

William Crawford was elected in October 1808, and 
was re-elected in 1810. 

Hugh Glasgow was elected in October 1812, and wa» 
re-elected in October 1814. 

Jacob Spengler was elected in October 1816. 

Jacob Hostetter was elected, in March 1818 to fill the 
place of Jacob Spengler resigned: he was re-elected in Oc« 
tober of the same year. 

James S. Mitchell was elected in October of the yeari 
1822, and 1824. 

Adam King was elected in October, 1826, and fe-e2ec^ 
edin 18'i8and 1830. 

Charles A. Barnitz was elected in 1832. 



96 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 



CHAPTER XII. 



PRIIVTIIVG. 

On ilie 1 7th October 1777, Congress, then sitting in 
York, "resolved that the committee of intelligence be au- 
thorized to take the most speedy and eflectual measures 
forgetting a printing press erected in York town for the 
purpose of conveying to the public the intelligence that 
Congress might from time to time receive." The press 
of Hall and Sellers of Philadelphia and one of the oldest 
in the state, was shortly afterwards brought to York, where 
divers public communications were printed, as was like- 
wise much continental money.* This was the first print- 
ing press erected in Pennsylvania, west o{ of the Susque- 
hanna. Congress removed frcm York in June 1778, and 
the press, with all the appurtenances, accordingly accom- 
panied them to Philadelphia. 

There was now an ''aching' void" for about nine years. 
In tlie year 1787, Matthias Bartgis and T. Roberts estab- 
lished a printing office in Yoik; in the month of October 
in that year they issued the first number of their newspa- 
per, which was entitled ''The Pennsylvania Chronicle and 
York YVeekly Advertiser.-' It was "printed and published 
by M. Bartgis and Company." This paper was continued, 
about two years, when, Edie and \Vil cocks having com- 
menced a paper in York, the press, types &.c. were shortly 
afterwards removed to Harrisburg, Pa. 

The next paper printed in York was the "Pennsylvania 
Herald, and York General Advertiser," the first number 
of which was issued by James Edie, John Edie and Henry 
Wilcocks, on the 7th of January, 1789. 

The types employed in the printing of the Herald were 

* A circumstance connected with the printing of continentat 
money in York, shews that some of workmen employed by Con- 
gress, or the aa;ents ot Congress, were not quite so honest as they 
should have been. In the year 1821 repairs were made to th© 
house in which thecontinental money had been printed;and under the 
hearth of a room in the second story of the building-, billsto the a- 
mount of some thousand dollars were found concealed, no doubt 
with the object of filling them up with counterfeit signatures — the 
execution -of which object, it is presumable, was prevented by«c 
cident or the feSirs of those who secreted the bills. 



HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 9^ 

cast in Philadelphia by Mr. Bane, a gentleman who was 
educjifed in Edinburgh, in Scotland, and who had been, in 
this country, a partner of Dr. Wilson. The press was made 
in York under the direction of Henry Wilcocks, the iron 
work being executed by Jacob Small. The prir.ting ink of 
the first number was manul'actured in Germantovvn. 

The Herald preserved its title for about eleven year?, 
though as to minor things, such as ownership and the like, 
it underwent some changes; thus, for example, we tind it 
in J799 ♦'printed every Wednesday by John Edie; price 
to subscribers fifteen sliillin^s per annum." 

in the year 1800, Mr. Edie took Mr. Robert M'Ciellan 
as a partner; and changing- the title of the Herald they 
commcncid a newpaptr entitltd the -'Yoik Hccorder. " 
Tj)e *'Reco!der" was, in truth, tiie ''Herald'' roniinued; 
its first niimhtr issued on the 29lh of Janr.nry 1800. 

The '"Recorder," aUiiongh it passed through the hands 
of about twenty different editors, was regularly continued 
until the year 1830. The last editor of the ^^Re( order" 
was Samuel Wagner, E:*q. Tiie rstabli-hrrx nt passed froiri 
Mr. Wagner, into the hands of Thomas C. Hnnibly, by 
whom a paper was published at first caili d ihe "Yoik Re- 
publican," and afterwards tiie "Pennsylvania RcpiiMican." 
Mr. Harr.bly transferred the establishment in 1834, to 
Samuel E. Clement, by whom a paper is now | ublished 
bearing the title of the "Pennsylvania RtpnblicEn." 

Until the year 1796, there had not been two papers pub- 
lished in York at the same time. In the spring of that 
year Solomon Meyer* commenced the publication of a ger- 
man paper, entitled "Die York Gazette." This was the 
first paper printed in this county in the German langnnge. 
It afterwards passed into the hands of Christian Schlichting, 
under whom it ended in the year 1804. In that year, ihe 
press, type.', &c., were purchased by Mr. Daniel Heckert, 
by whom they were sold to Stark and Laj'ge, of Hanover, 
by which latter gentleman the ' Hanover Gazette." a Ger- 
jnan paper, was established, in 1805. 

The paper next established in the borough of York, wa« 

* Mr. Meyer was commissioned Brigade Inspector of the firat 
brigade, composed of (he miJiiia ofYorlcand Adams counties, on 
the 25th of April. 1300, He died at Winchester, Virgioia, on th^ 
2Stb of February, 1811, 



US HISTORY OF YOllK COUNTY. 

"Der Volks Berichter," the fust number of which was pub- 
lished by Andrew Billmeyer, on the 25ih of July 1799. 

There were now three papers published together in 
York, one in the English and two in the German lan- 
guage. 

The *'Vo]ks Berichter" was continued four years. 

"Der Wahre Republicaner" was the third German pa- 
per printed in York, its first number being issued on the 
20th of February, ]8()5. This paper, wliich was a continu- 
ation of the ''Berichter," or rather a revival of it, was at 
first published by Schlichting and Billmeyer, afterward by 
Daniel Billmeyer alone, until his death, which was in the 
year 1828. Siiortly afier Mr. Billrneyer's decease, the es- 
tablishment was purchased by Mr. Snmuel Wagner, at that 
time Editor of the York Recorder, who from that time un- 
til the year 1830, published an English and a German pa- 
per, the latter of which bore the titlo cf'-'Der Republican- 
ishe Herold." At the time that M\. Wagner transferred the 
"York Recorder" to Thomas C. Hambly, as before men- 
tioned, he sold the "Repnblicanis! he Herold" to Messrs. 
Glossbrenner and May, by whom the p^p( r was published 
for about two months, whpn Mr. Glossbrenner transferred 
his share of it to Benjamin Flory, and the paper was pub- 
lished by May and Flory, for about one year, when it was 
purchased by Thomas C Hambly, and united to the estab- 
lishment of the '^York Re|)ubli(an." In 1834, Samuel E, 
Clement purchased both papers, and they continue to be 
published by him to this time, 

Until the year 1808, ihere had not been two English pa- 
pers published here at one and ihe same lin^e. In the njonth 
of May in that year the first numbei of tiie ^-Expositor" was 
issued, a weekly paper printed and published every Thurs- 
day by Daniel Heckert and Dnniel Ujdegraflr. The E.xpos- 
iter was continued until August, 1814, when both Editors 
suddenly relinquislicd their ejnployment, and went forth, 
with signal patriotism, to the field of fame und danger. Af- 
ter their return from North Point, whither, with other 
"hearts of oak," they hud marched as volunteers, they did 
not resume the publication of the Expositor. 

In the year 1815, a new German paper, entitled "Der 
Union's Freund," was commenced in York, the first num- 
ber of which was issued on the I9lh of January) 1815, bj 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNXt. 99 

Charles T. Melsheimer and James Lewis, at that time joint 
editors of the '^York Recorder." Tliis paper was continued 
nearly two years — the last number of it was issued in Octo- 
ber, 1816. 

In the year 1815, an English paper, with the title of '*The 
York Gazette," was commenced in York; and the first 
number was issued in May of that year, by William ClaW- 
son Harris. The publication of the Gazette was continu- 
ed by Mr. Harris until the time of his death, (the 5th of 
December, 1818.) It immediately passed into other hands, 
and has been regularly continued to the present time. At 
Shis time it is edited and published by Adam King and 
George Augustus Barnitz. 

In connexion with the above English paper, its German 
sister, of the same name, should be mentioned. The first 
Slumber of the German York Gazette was issued on th^ 
16th of March. 1821, by Adam Kinnr and Richard Abbott, 
who were at that time, partners in the publication of the 
English paper, then as now, printed at the same office. 
The present Editors of the Gerfuan Gazette, are Messrs. 
King and Barnitz, the Editors of the English paper. 

In August, 1819, a monthly literary gazette was com- 
menced at York, which was ai first published by P. Hardt, 
jit that time Editor of the "York Recorder." This periodi- 
cle was called the "Village Museum," and was continued 
four years. 

The Theological Seminary of the German Reformed 
Church having been removed to York in the fall of the 
year 1828, the "Magazine" ofth.it church has, since that 
time, been published here. The first three or four numbers 
published in York, were printed by Samuel Wagner, since 
which time it has been published successively by Glossbren- 
ner and May, May and Flory, and by Daniel May. At 
present, the Magazine is edited by Dr. L. Mayer, and prin- 
ted by D inie' May. 

In 1830, a German religious paper was commenced in 
York, by the Rev. John H Dreyer. The paper was called 
"Die Evangelische Zeitiing," and continued in existence, 
with occasional suspension of publication, for about two 
years. 

In the year 1830, the publication of the ^'Harbinger," 
an English paper, which had been comuienced and publish* 



100 HISTORY or TORK COUNTY. 

(A for about tiiree years at Shrewsbury, in ihis county, wa-? 
removed to York, it is still in existence, anil continues 
to be pnbUsIied, in an enlarged and improved form, by its 
original Editor, Mr. William C. S nyth. It povv bears the 
title of ^'The Harbinger and Stiles' bnion." 

In December 1831, the '-York Camity Farmer,'" an En- 
glish paper, was commenced. This was liie first paper, of 
imperial size, ever publisiied in t!ie county. It was edited 
by Adam J. Glossbrermer, and published by Glossbrennir 
and May. The "Farmer'' was discontinued at the end of 
its second year. 

Having noticed all the periodicals ever published in the 
borough of York, we wdl proceed to look after thos? pub- 
lished in other parts of t!ie co:inty. Thera wis no p.i- 
per printed in what is now A l;ims county, before t'le year 
1800, when it wasseperated from Yor'v. 

The first paper printed at ILirjovcr was a Gerinan one 
entitled '-Die Pennsylvanische Wochenschrift," the first 
\jumber of which was issued by Lepper and Stellinius, in 
April, 1797. Mr. Lnpper became, not lo:ig afterwards, the 
sole propri«;tor of the establishmenU and he continued th(3 
paper until February, 1805. 

The ^'Woclienschrift" had but j.ist been di?continued, 
when the "Hanover Gazette," another German paper, was 
commenced, the first number of it being issued in April, 
1805. It was published under th3 firm of Stark and Lange, 
until November, 1816 — fro.m which time to the present, 
with the exception of a short period, during which Koehler 
was associated in the publication, it h is been published by 
Daniel Philip Lange alone. 

The next paper printed at H:inover was a German one of 
ehort existence, for the first number vvas published in Au- 
gust, 1809, and the last nntnber in March^ IS 10, at which 
time one of the Editors, Mr. Melsheimer, removed to Fred- 
ericktown. 

The first Entrliih paper printed at Hmaver was entitled 
the "Hanover Guardian," the first number of which was 
issued by J. II. Wiestling, in September, 1818. 

This paper was published but for a few years, during 
which lime the establishment passed through a number of 
hands; and the publication was at hist discontin'jed for 
want of sufficient patronage. 



History of york county. 

ifter the discontinuance of the "Guardian," another 
English paper, wiihthe title of the "Hanoverian," was com- 
menced in Hanover, This paper shared the fate of its 
EngJish predecessor, perishing in a short time, for want of 
patronage. 

In 1824, anew German paper was established in Hano- 
ver, entitled the ''Intelligenzblatt," the first number of 
which was issued in April of that vear^ by P. Mueller 
and J .Schmuck. This paper was soon after its commence- 
ment, removed to Adams county. 

The "Hanover Gazette," a German paper, is now the 
only paper published in Hanover. 

A German paper is now published in the village of Jef- 
ferson, in this county, by George Sprung. This paper was 
established in April, 1834, 



CHAPTER XHI. 

GUBERNATORIAIi ELECTIONS. 

There can be no truer index of the political principles of 
©nr county, than the votes it has given at different times, 
for governor of the commonweakh. The office of Gover- 
nor, in this state, was substituted for that of President of 
ihe Council, on the 2d of September, 1790, at which time 
the present Constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted. Be- 
fore proceeding to state the result of the different elections 
in this county, for governor, we will give a list of the pro- 
"uincia/ governors, (i. e., those who exercised the suprerud 
executive power in Pennsylvania prior to the adoption of the 
Constitution of 29th September 1779) and a list of the 
Presidents of the Councilf an office created by the constitu- 
tion of 1779. 

I. Provincial Executives. 

1. William Penn, from October 24, 1682, to August 1«, 
3 684. 

2. Council and President, Thomas Lloyd, from Au£i«at 
12, 1684,to December, 1688. 



ir^ 



5. John Blackwell, Deputy Governor, fioin December 
1688, to February 1689. 

4. Council and President, Thomas Lloyd, from Febru- 
ary, 1689, to Apri}, 1693. 

5. Beinjrimin Fletcher, Governor, from April, 1693, to 
June, 1693. 

6. William Markham, Deputy Governor, from June 
1693, to December, 1699. 

7. Willi im Perm, afjain Governor, from December, 
1699, to November, 1701. 

8. Andrew Hmnilton, Deputy Governor, from Novem- 
ber, 170 J, to February, 1702. 

9. President and Council, from February 1702, to Feb- 
ruary 1703. 

10. John Evans, Deputy Governor, from February 1703, 
to February 1709. 

11. Charles Gookin, Deputy Governor, from March 
1709, to May, 1717. 

12. William Keith, Deputy Governor, from May 1717. 
to June 1726. 

13. Patrick Gordon, Deputy Governor, from June, 
1726, to 1736. 

14. Council and President, James Logan, from 1736 
10 1738. 

15. George Thomas, Deputy Governor, from 1738, to 
1747. 

16. Council and President, Anthony Palmer, from 1747, 
10 November 1748. 

17. James Hamilton, Deputy Governor, from Novem- 
ber 1748, to October, 1754. 

18. Robert Hunter Morris, Deputy Governor, from Oc- 
tober 1754, to 1756. 

19. William Dennv, Deputy Governor, from 1756 to 
1759. 

20. Jameg Hamilton, again Deputy Governor, from 
1759, to 1764. 

21. John Penn, son of Richard, Deputy Gove rnor 
from 1764, to 1771. 

22. Council and President, James Hamilton, 1771. 
S3. Richard Penn, Governor, from 1 771, to 1773. 

24. John Penn, brother of Richard, Governor, from 
1773, to 1776. 



HISTORY OF YORK COUKTY. [Q^ 

U. Presidents of the Councils, under the Constitution 
of 1779. 

There were five different persons v>ho presided, at dif- 
ferent periods, over the executive council of Pennsylvania, 
They were elecled and presided in the following order : 

1. Thomas Wharton. 

2. Joseph Read. 

3. John Dickinson.* 

4. Benjamin Franklin. | 

5. Thomas Mifflin.J 

The first election for Governor was held on the L2th of 
October, 1790, at which election the votes stood in York 
county as follows: 

Thomas Mifflin, 1699 votes, 

Arthur St. Clair, 29 •• 

Thomas Mifflin was elected. 

SECOND ELECTION.— October 8, 1793.. 
F. A. "Vluhlenberg, 1265 votes' 

Thomas Mifflin, 712 u 

Thomas Mifflin was elected. 

THIRD ELECTION.—Octoberll, 1796. 
Thomas Mifflin, 1124 votes, 

Peter Dinke!^ 12 *i 

Henry Miller, U u 

F. A.Muhlenberg, i u 

Thomas Mifflin was elected. 

FOURTH ELECTION.— October S, 1799. 
James Ross, of Pittsburg, 2705 votes. 

Thomas McKean, 2026 " 

Scattering, 4 u 

Thomas McKean was elected. 

* John Dickinson was the man after whom Dickinson College at 
Carlisle, is named He was born in Delaware—was a member of 
the assembly of Pennsylvania in 1764— and a member of the first 
Congress in 1774. He died in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1808. 

t It is needless to tell aa American who Benjamin Franklin 



was. 



t Thomas Mifflin was a Quaker. Born in 1744. Member of 
4he first Congress in 1774. Expelled from the Society of Friends 
in 1775, for accepting the office of Quarter Master General. Meip- 
ber of the convention which framed the constitution of the United 
States in 1787. First Governor of Pennsylvania under the coastitu - 
lion of 1790, in which office he continued for 9 yeara. Died in Lan- 
$a8ter m January 1800. 



404 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTS. 

FIFTH ELECTION.— October 12, iSOi. 
Thomas McKean, 'l^'^T' 

James Ross, of Pittsburg * 4i 

Tiioraas McKean was elected. 

SIXTH ELECTION.— October 8, 1805. 
Thomas McKean, 1883 

Simon Snyder, "^^^ 

James Ro'^s, of Pittsburg, ^ 

Thomas McKean was elected. 

SEVENTH ELECTION.— October 1 1, 1308^ 

Simon S lyder, ^f^^ 

James Hoss, of Pittsburg, i^^ * 

John Spayd, *^ 

Simon Snyder was elected. 

EIGHTH ELECTION.— October 14, 1811. 

Simon Snyder, ^^^^ 

Scattering, *^ 
•Simon Snyder was elected. 

NINTH ELECTION.— October U, 1814. ^ 

Simon Snyder, 1^^^ 

Isaac Wayne, ^"^' 
Simon Snyder was elected. 

TENTH ELECTION.— October 14, 1817. 

William Findlay 2918 

Joseph Hiester, iQ^'* 
William Findlay was elected. 

ELEVENTH ELECTION.— Oct. 10, 1820. 

William Findlay, 2621 

Joseph Hiester, 2131 
Joseph Hiester was elected. 

TWELFTH ELECTION.— October 14, 182S. 

John Andrew Shultze, 3915 

Andrew Grejig, 2166 
John Andrew Shultze was elected. 

THIRTEENTH ELECTION.— October 10, lSi6. 

John Andrew Shultze, 2494 

Scattering, 1^*^ 
John Andrew Shultze was elected. 
FOURTEENTH ELECTION.— October IS, I8i». 

George Wolf, 1894 

Joseph Rimer, "^^^ 
George Wolf was elected. 



HISVOKl OF YORK COL.NTT. 105 

I IFTECNTH ELECTION.— October 9, iS3i. 
George Wolf, 2367 

Joseph Ritner, 236 7 

George Wolf was elected. 

7\he above sUtemep.t exhi'jits the fluctaotions of politic ii 
opinion in t'jis county, and affords several rcmarkp/ole in- 
gtanoes of entire revohition ia public opinion ia t. singlo 
gubernatorial term of three years. At the first i locii<m 
Mifflin had 1699 votes, nt the second 7 1 2, h1, the third 1124 
At the socond eleoti )n F. A. Mnhieiiberg had a rniioilty r.~ 
ver MillJin ofmorethnn 500 votas, and three year;? after th .( 
Mifilin beat Muhlenberg 1 123 votes, t!ie infer te'-eivinir 
but a single vota. These changes are observiible through- 
out the history of gubernitorial eleclions in this county. 
The litest two elections, resulteJ, as will h ive been per- 
ceived, as follows: — In 1S29, George VVo!f had a nmj.»rity 
over Joseph Ritner, of 1 125 votes. Ia 183^, Uilnr hid » 
majority often over Wolf. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

8TATE SENATORS OF YORK COtT^TF. 

Under the constitution of 2d September 1790. 
1. For the district composed of the counties of York 
and Lancaster. 
1790. Michael Schmeiser, Sebastian GroO'. Adam Hub- 

ley, Jun. 
ilOi. No return. 
i792. Do. 

1793. Do. 

1794. Michael Schmeiser, Thomas LiHv. 

1795. James Ewing. 

1796. No return. 

1797. Do. 

1798. Do. 

1799. James EwJBg, 



106 kiSTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

-2. For the district composed of the counties of York 
and Adams. 

1800. William Reed. 

1801. Do. 
1S02. No return. 

1803. Rudolph Spanglsf; 

1804. No return. 

1805. AViiliam Miller. 

1806. No return. 

1SG7. Thomas Campbell. 

1808. No return. 

1809. William Gilliland. 

1810. No return. 

1811. John Strohman. 

1812. No return. 

1813. .lames McSherry. 

1814. No return. 

1815. Charles A. Barnitz. 

1816. No retur 1. 

1817. William Gilliland. 

1818. No return. 

181 a. Frederick Eichelberger. 

1820. No return. 

1821. Jacob Eyster. 

1822. No return. 

1823. William McTlvaine. 

1824. Zephaniah Herbert. 

1825. Do. 

1826. Henrv Logan. 

1827. Do. 
1628. No return. 

1829. Ezra BIylhe. 

1830. No return. 

1831. Henry Snyser. 

1832. No retinn. 

1833. David Middlekanff. 

The district composed of York and Adams sends tuo 
Senators in ev«'ry four years. The Senator is chosen from 
the counties altertialely — one being elected every two years. 
In the above taole it will be perceived that Senators have 
been elected oftener than biennially — where this occurred, 
jl was occasioned by the resignation, belore the expiration 



HISTORY or YORK COUNTY. 107 

of his time, of a Senator, when another inflividnal was cho- 
sen to serve until the expiration of the period for which the 
first was elected. 

GENERA I. ASSEMBIiY. 

The following is a list of the membeis, for the county of 
York, in the General Assenibly ofPennsylvania, both before 
and since the revolution- They were elected in October 
of the following years, viz: 

John Wright and John Armstrong. 

Ko sheriff's return, nor did any repre 

sentative appear. 

John Wright and John W^itherow. 

No return. 

John Wright and David McConaiighy. 

do. do* 

a a 

a i 

a a 

David McConnaghy & John Blackburn. 
Do. Do. 

u u 

John Blackburn & Robert McPherson. 

Do. Do. 

Robert McPherson and Archibald 
McGrew. 

Thos. Minscliall & Michael Schwaabc. 
Do. Do. 

James Ewing and Michael Sehwaabe. 
James Ewing and John Pope. 
Do. Do. 



lOi KISTORV or VORK COrNTY. 

1774. James Ewing and Mkhael Schvvaaliv 

1775. Do. Do. 

ff^On the 23il of March 177'3, an act was passeil 
to increase the number of representatives, at 
uiiich time Samuel Edie and James Riinkin were 
added as representatives from York courity to serve 
the remainder of that session. 

1776. Archibald McLean, Micliael Sclnvaabe 
Daviil Dunwoodie, James Dickson, 
Micliael Halin, John Head. 

1777. David Dunwoodie, Jamrs Dickson, 
Michael Hahn, Matthew Dill; John 
xignewj John Orr. 

1778. Thomas Hartley, Samuel Edic, Thom- 
as Lilly, Michael Schmeiser, William 
Koss, Henry Hchlegel. 

1779. David DuiiwoojUe, James Dickson, 
Matthew Dill, John Orr, Henry Schleg- 
el, James Lieper, John Hay. David 
Kennedy. 

1780. James Dickson, Thomas Lilly, Mi- 
chael Schmeiscr, Moses McLean, Rob- 
ert Gilhraith, James Smith, Willianj 
Mitchell, James Hamsey. 

1781. Michael Hahn, John Agnew, Thoma;* 
Lilly, Michael Schmeiser, Moses Mc- 
Lean, Robert McPherson, James Ham- 
sey, Joseph McGuffin. 

1782. Michael Hahn, Thomas Lilly, Michael 
, Schmeiser, Moses McLean, Robert 
McPherson, Joseph McGrtifien, John 
Hay, Patiick ^cott. 

|783. Moses McLean, Robert McPherson, 
Joseph McGuffin, John Hay, Henry 
Miller, Philip Gardner, David Grier, 
David McConaughy, 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 109 

Robert McPherson, John Hay, Henry 
Miller, Philip (lardner, David' McCon- 
aughy, James Ewing, Henry Tyson, 
Joseph Lilly, 

Henj-y Miller, Philip Gardner, David 
McConaughy, Henry Tyson, Joseph 
Lilly, David Mcljellan, Adam Eichel- 
berger, Michael Schmeiser. 
David McConaughy, Henry Tyson, Jo- 
seph Lilly, David McLellan, Adam 
Eichelherger, Michael Schmeiser. 
Michael Si hmeiser, Joseph Lilly, Da- 
vid McLellan, William Mitchell, Jo- 
seph Read, Thomas Clingan. 
Michael Schmeiser,Thomas Lilly, Hen- 
ry Tyson, David McLellan, Joseph 
Read, Thomas Clingan, 
Thomas Lilly, Thomas Clingan, Jacob 
Schmeiber, John Stewart, William 
Godfrey, Joseph Head. 
Joseph I ead, Philip Gardner, Henry 
Tyson, Wm. McPherson, John Stew- 
art, Thomas Lilly. 
Thomas Lilly, John Stewart, William 
McPherson, lexander Turner, Thom- 
as Thorn[)urg, Henry Tyson. 
Philip Gardner, John Stewart, Alex- 
ander Turner, Thomas Thornburg. 
Thomas Lilly, William McPherson. 
Thomas Lilly, Philip Gardner, John 
Stewart, Alexander Turner, Thomas 
Campbell, James Kelly. 
Philip Gardner, John Stewart, Wil^ 
liam McPherson. Alexander Turner,, 
Thomas Campbell, James Kelly ^ 
J 



HO HISTORV OF ¥ORK COUNTY. 

1795. William McPlierstm, Alexander Tur- 
ner, Thomas Campbell, Philip Gard-, 
ner, William Miller, John Stewart. I 

1796. William McPhevson, John Stewart, 
Philip Gardner, Alexander Turner. 
Thomas Campbell, William Miller. 

1797. Thomas Campbell, William McPher- 
8on, Alexander Turner, Philip Gard 
ner, Jacob Hostetter, James Keliy. i| 

1798. Thomas Campbell, Alexander Turner *' 
William ^^cPherson, James Kelly, Ja 
col) Hostetter, Philip Alhrii^ht. 

1799. William JMcPherson, Alexander Tur- 
ner, Thomas Campbell, Jost llerbach, 
Alexander Cobean, Jacob Hostetter, 

1800. Jacob Hostetter, Frederick Eichelber- 
ger, William Anderson, Michael Gem 
mill. 

1801. Frederick Eiclielberger, William An- 
ders(m, Michael Gemmill, Michael 
Hell man. 

1802. Frederick Eicbelberger, William An- 
derson, Michael JJellman, Daniel 
Stoufl'er. 

1803. Michael Hellman, Daniel Stouffer, Mat- 
tliew Clark, George Speiigler. 

1804. Michael Pellman, Matthew Clark, 
George Spengler, Adam Hendricks. 

i£05. George Spengler, Conrad Sherman, 
William McLellan, Benjamin Pedan. 

1806. William Anderson, George Spengler, 
Adam Hendiicks, Robert Hamersly. 

1807. Conrad Sherman, Jacof) Eiclielberger^ 
Robert Gemmill, John McLellan. 



HISTORY 07 YORK COUNTY. IH 

Geor2;e Spengler, Abraham GraMcjs, 
Archii)ald StecU George Nes. 
George Hpen^ler, Abraham Graffiu^, 
George Nes, Archibald S. Jordan. 
George Nes, Jami*s S. Mitchell^ Mo 
ses Rankin, Riidc^lpli Spengler. 
Adam Hendricks, James H. Mitcbe!!, 
Moses Rankin, George Stake. 
James H. Mitchell, Peter Storm^ Jacob 
Heckert, Adam Hendricks. 
James S. Mitchell, Jacob Heckert, 
Archibald S. Jordan, George Freys 
inger. 

Archibald S. .Tordon, Peter Storm, 
Peter Small, James S. Mitchell. 
Frederick Eichelberger, Peter Storro. 
John l/ivingston, Jolin Slrohman. 
Frederick Eichelberger, Peter Storm, 
Michael Gardner, John Livingstoo. 
Michael Gardner, Fr. derick Eichel- 
berger, Peter Storm, Moses Hankiu. 
Jacob Doll, Peter Reidefj Robert Raxm- 
sej, Henry JDogan. 
Ditto. Ditto. 

Jonas Dierdorf, William Nes, Jobo 
Livingston, Peter Storm. 

Do. Do. 

John Gardner, Samuel .TordaB* Wil- 
liam Diven, Christian Hetrick. 

Do. Do. 

Samuel Jordan, Christian Hetrick, 
William Diven, John Kaoilelt. 
Christian Hetrick, Simon Anstine. 
John Eichelber2:er, Michael Gardner. 



112 HISTORY OF YORK COUXTY. 

1826. Christian Hetrlck, John Becker, Peter 
Wolfoid, Stephen T. Cooper. 

1827. Stephen T. Cooper, Peter Wolford^ 
John Becker, George Fisher. 

1828. Stephen T. Cooper, Michael Doudel, 
Tliomas .Vletzler, George Fisher. 

1829. Michael Doudel, George Fisher, An- 
drew McConkey. 

1830. George Fisher, Andrew McConkey, 
John Rankin. 

1831» Andrew Flickinger, John R. Donnel, 
John Rankin. 

1832. John Rankin, John R. Donnel, Daniel 
Durkee. 

1833. John R. Donnel, William McClellan. 
Henry Snyder. 



CHAPTER XV. 

SHERIFFS. 

The candidates for the office of sheriff*, at the first election 
held in York county, were IJiins Htnulton and Richard 
McAlister. At thnt lime, and at tlie eleitions for some 
years following, all the voiers assembled together at Yt»rk, 
as there were no election districts as at present. The first 
election, which was in October, 1749, was held in York- 
town at the house formfrly occu|)ied by Baltzer Spanaler 
and afterwards by SHmnel Slangier, as a public inn. The 
building was of logs and was not quite finished. There 
was but one place at which the vot's were received, and 
that was at an ooening between two of the logs of the 
building. During the forenoon every thing was peaceable; 



DISTORT OF YORK COUNTY. AiS 

but in tlie afternoon the blood was warmed, and men were 
now more ready for action. Hamilton, who lived in what 
i^ now Adorns county, was the "Irish candidate,'' and Mc- 
Alister, who lived where Hinover now stands, was the 
^'Datch candidate." McAiister's Germans pressed hard, 
and were, in the stillness of voting, rather overpowering 
the friends of Mr. Hamilton. Displeased with this, two 
or three stoat Irish boxers took possession of the place 
for handin(T in votes, and were determmed that none 
but their own friends should enjoy the liberty of suffrage. 
A lusty German being anxious to offer Ins vote, went 
determinedly to the place of voting, and tripped up the 
heels of one of the Irish guards. An affray immediately 
commenced, and in less than five minutes the action was 
general. Furor administrat arma. A large quantity of 
saplings near the house were soon torn and cut from the 
ground to be used as weapons of offence anJ defence. 
Blows were dealt with an unsparing hand; each party 
giving hot b.ttle. But victory at length perched upon 
The banner of the "Dutch party, ' for the friends of McAl- 
ister not only discomfitted the Irish, but completely rout- 
ed their whole forces, and put them to flight Thev drove 
them all beyond the Codorus; and not a member of the de- 
feated party was to be found cast of the creek during the 
'rmahi&that day. There were a few >fs broken, 
and considerable blood shed: but, fortunately for the hon- 
our of the county, no life was lost in the affray, l he Ger> 
mans, keeping po^s'session of the ground, gave in their votes 
without moleltation: whereby McAlister had an overwheU 
mins majority. But this availed not : for Ham, ton was a 
S Ta o te of the executive, and was, shortly alter the 
^lecUcommissioned as sheriff of the co^n^X <>^ J^^^*^; 
and as such he continued untd the 10th of October, 

' Hlmilton was, after an interval of three years, again com^ 
missioned as sheriff, the only instance to be tou.id in the 
Tecoids of our county, of an individual serving more than 
one term as sheriff. ' ^^^ 

That the second election in York count, was not con- 
dacted n a less, fierce spirit than the first, appears from 
Slowing extract from the record "f Jl.e courU^f Qu^- 
tor Sessions for the 30th of October, 1750. Whereas, 

J ** 



^14 HISTORY OP YORK COUNlT, '^1 

Hans Hamilton, Esq., High Sheriff of this county, hath bJ 
his remonstrance in writing to this court set forth, that by\ 
reason of the tumultuous behaviour of sundry persons at' 
he last election held here for this county, and of the bal- 
lots or tickets not having been delivered to the inspectors 
on th.ee several p.eces of paper, as directed by an act of 
the General Assembly of this province, entitled ''an act for 
raising the county rates and levies," he could not make 
such returns as by the aforesaid act is enjoined : It is there^ 
fore considered and ordered by the Court here, tha the 
commissioners and assessors who served ihis county nhei^ 
several stations the last year, shall, (in pursuance o^f the acl 

^uf\^T^ Hamilton was much honored in the earlv part 

r„g o^n '"'"^' "' '^^"^ '' P^^i-^ '- -^« t'- follow- 

He became, several years after he had served two terms 

Alexande \lcK.l)\UrvfL'-^'}''" '""""'^ '»! 
Kk',„\ H.n n ■' ;l ^" ('"''" mimed to Hiigli Mc- 
Kea«.)H,,„,Guia,n. George. John, William and Jafnes 

Mr. Hamilton was succeeded after his first term b» Fnhn 
Adlum, who was elected in O.Uober, 1749 m"" Z, "''," 

rio:x'''7?af\!fdTh'7;f- ""'■-- ^^^^^ 

bis successors ti U^:^^^':;:^^ ofThe^^T "^ 

tions respectively: * ^"^'^ ^^^c- 

Thornas Hainiiton, pl^n»«^ • r. 

ZachRriah SlMu,ard elected in Oct. 1756. 

Peter ShuoRrd^ ' ^^*- ^758. 

Kobert M<Pher3on, ^^^- ^^59. 

*David McConaughy ^^^- ^762. 

George .Eichelbertrer! 9""^' '7^^' 

Samuel Edie, Oct. 1768. 

Oct. 1771. 



county^bcMnl*'^pp"o'Sb^^^^^^^ ^'''* collector of excise i„ York 
-August, 1749- PP'^^'^'^^y the General Assembly on the 19th oi 



il 



HISTORV OF YORK COUNTV. 115 



^Charles Luken?, p^^^, 

Henry M.ller, •^^'l^^; 



1774, 
1777. 

Wi„.,. Ba,ley, ,,- |J^«; 

r ?r'K Oct. 1786 

S,""'^'' ^*"''' Oct. .789. 

though the election for sheriir. in this county is usually 

a matter of vev warm contest, yet it never was so clo.elv 

ZT7 -r^" ^""'"':' "'"' *'■«" ^""^-"l Laub was' e^- 
r 1, r., ,? '" V"'"'''"®' "'«■•« Conrad Laub and VVil- 
lam McClellan.of whom th. former had 2130 vote, the 
la ter 21.1. Imm.d.ately after the election a very p easant 
article appeared ,n one of the York papers, which, as it 
will not take up much of our room' w'e will '.ive a 

::l:"harof Lr "'"'^" '^ •^^- ^"""^'" ""-- '^- ^ 

'•The first chapter of Chronicles. 
I. Now it came to pass in these days when Geoi-^e , + i 
wasPresident even George ike C-ea/f was Pre^denl oie 
the nafon and JohnS even John surnan.ed tkeladl 

fulfilled his time, that there was a great sli? amoL tl,»n„^ 
pie, whom they should choose to reign in Ws stead. ^ 



* Charles Lukens and William R^nr,^ 
1776. for those officerfwe e then eircted TnT f^^^^iSheriffs iu 
being then en^a^ed in other public servicerwir ^"' ^'i'^/"^' 
accepting the office; wherennon JvT.rn^ ^ ' ^* Prevented from 
liamllo^an, although noUhrhVhe^7rvr. "''^''^"^^' '^ ^^'^^- 

here be remarked, that ,u,,l,lh ^o^^^^^^^^^ Jt may 

proper place for erecting ..boralLerfndfn/r. "'^°»^*'-"«ie «^« a 
of military stores, yet Gen Washing. ^f"' "f* magazines 

dated January Irth 1777 sa^^ ^ri ' ° ^lP '" ^ '^"^'^ ^« ^^^at body, 
have consulted upL IhL' ocfa^ion ^ i^.r^V'"^^"^^'-^ "'h^™ Jf 
run as safe, and Ire convTnlfir^thln CaH^sfe^^^'^^"" '^^"^^^ ^^ 
^J^^^'^^e^Z'^^^^^^^^^ of his term of of- 

§JohnEdie. * ^ 



ji5 HiSTORV OF YORK COVNTT. 

« Then the Willliamttes* who inhabited the western 

'"'J"" And when these sayings went abroad among '^'7^°: 
We there were certain men rose up and w.thstood the 
'w ilSes and said, God do so to -;, -/ .;"-: ,td of 
William shall rule over us at this time m the steart 

■^1"' Then the governors, the judges, the captains of the 
fif,tes,andthe rulfrs of the people gathered themselves to- 

^i'%ndso it was that they communed together, even 

of EWt and JoAn ifceLaiojer-ti: 

6 Now all entered into a covenant, and said, of a truth 
„. wilimTke Conrarf§§ our ruler, for he .s an upr.ght man, 
r^d will do what is right i„ the eyes of the people. 

on the other. ^ , , . > i 

8 And there was a great slaughter, for the batt.e con-| 
tinued until the going down of the sun. , 

9 For the Conradites come forth by hundreds and br 1 
Jusands, by their tribes, as sands by the «asUore for muU 
litude. 

■^he friends of William McClellan. 
4The friend* of Henry hchlegel. 
tThe friends of Jacob Rud.sel. 
ixhe friendsof Conrad ShermiD, 
flThe friends of Pliilip Oo»5 kr. 
Sxhe friends of Henry MiHer, 
**The friends of John Campbell. 
^^EliLewia. 
nJolin Lukens. 
§§Conrad LauU 



elected in Oct. 


1792. 


0(t. 


1795. 


Oci. 


1798. 


Oct- 


1801. 


Oct. 


1804. 


■ Oct. 


1807. 


Oct. 


1810. 


Nov. 


1811. 


Nov. 


1815. 


Oct. 


1818. 


Oct. 


1821. 


Oft. 


1824. 


t. 


1827. 


Oct. 


1830. 


Oct. 


1833. 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. U7 

10. And so it was, that the army of the Williamitcs was 
discomfit ted. 

11. Now the land will have rest for three full yenrs.-' 
The *nhree full years" having come to an end, Conrad 

Laub was succeeded by 
Godfrey Lenhait, 
William McClellan, 
Nicholas Gehvicks, 
John Strohman, 
Jacob Ei« helber^er, 
iVIichael Klinefelter, 
Benjamin Hirsih, 
Michael Gardner, 
John Kanffelt, 
Zachariah Slangier, 
Thonias Jameson, 
Blichael Doude!, 
William Spangler, 
Andrew Duncan, 
Adam Eichelberger, 

CORONERS. 

Alexander Love was the first coroner, and continued in 
office for five years from 1749, the time of the erection 
of the county. He was succeeded by 

Archibald McGrew, in the year 1754. 

Zachariah Shugard, 17o5- 

William Kinjj:, 1758. 

Michael Schwaabe, 176l. 

.Tohn Adlum, 17G3. 

Joseph Adlum, 1764. 

Mr. Adlum continued in office fourteen years — the elec- 
tion for cot oner in those times was held annually', and 
there was no limitation to his term of service. Who was 
coroner in 1 779, '80, & '8 1 , the records do not show. Af- 
ter that time the succession was as follows: 
Jacob Rudisell, 1782. 

Ephraim Pennington, . 1784. 

Andrew Johnson, 1786. 

John Morris, 1790, 

Jacob Updegraft; 1796. 

George Hi y, 1799. 

George Stake, 1802. 



lis iiisTorvY OF von:-; county- 

Jo^m Spangler, 1806. 

Tl»f>mas Jameson, ISOS. 

At the election in O^tob^r, igit, the votes f.>r coroner 
were 1S93 for ^ti'->hriel Gardner, and 1893 for John Rou*e. 
Mr. Gardner, )io'V"vor. being npp'>inted sherift' upon the 
ri»signation of B- Hi sch, in ISll, did not receive anj 
cornnission a:^ coro!ier. by reason whereof the person then 
in office, (Dr. Thomi* Jasjiecoi,) was continued. 
John Rouse, 18 t2. 

Thomas Jameson, 1816. 

Wdnani MclUaine, 181S. 

Lake Rou^e, 3801. 

Ihjurv Ne^, 1824. 

J-^ch Gerrv. 18 SO. 

Tb;>odore X'. Halk^ 18S3. 



Cli.^FTER XVr. 

COMMISSIONERS. 

The following is a list of commissioners of York county 
wilh the time on which each of tliem was q'lalified or vn- 
torcd on the dnties of his oITice. 

FIRST CMSS. 

Gc irg • Soliw^abe, qualified on O^t. 31. 1740 

Bartliolemew Maul, Oct. 29, 175! 

Feier Shujrnrd, Oct. 175 i 

Martin Eichelberg.r, Oct. 17r>7 

James Welsch, Oct. 1760 

WiJlir.m Douglas, Oct. 1763 

Joseph Updogriflf, Oct. 17''^C 

John HeckenJorn, Oct. 31, 1769 

Jolui Hav, O'.t. 20, 1771 

Mirhael Hahn, O't. 1775 

W'i'liam Ross, 177C 7 



Hisro: 



K-7 YOl:;x CilA'TT. 



219 



Philifi RotlirC'Ck, 
Jacob S( hmt^iser, 
Michael Hahn, 
Godfri^y Lenhart, 
Johij SuengliT, 
Josepli VVeLshhans, 
John Foi^ylhc, 
DiUiiel Sptii^Ier, 
CJifistojtiitM- LHun.an, 
Abraham Giofliiis, 
J!ic<*h HecUtrt, 
PcUr SciiJill, 
Jat;ob Sjiergler, 
h'\\n Bernitz, 
iliciiael Doudd^ 
Henry S< hineiser, 
John Vo<i!esoiig, 
feler Ahl, 
Jacob Dietz, 



V/alior Sharp, 
William I\KClellan,* 
Jcihu Mike!, 
Thomas M'Cartney, 
William Deiap, 
George iVl< vers, 
Philip Zrigler, 
Hiigii Dunwoodie, 
John VIcnteith, 
Henry Tyson, 
John fJay, 
John Sample, 
William Cochran, 
Robert Mofii^aon) 



Oct. 30, 


, 1773 


0<t. 12, 


, 1781 


Oct. 29, 


1784 


Oct. 29, 


1787 


Oct. 2^, 


1790 


Oct. 17, 


1793 


Dec. 6, 


1796 


Oct. 29, 


1799 


Oct. IG, 


1302 


Nov. 4. 


1805 


Nov. 7, 


1808 


Nov. 5, 


1811 


Nov. 2, 


181^ 


N<.v. 5, 


181; 


Nov. ?; 


1820 


Nov. 


182S 


Nov. 


1826 


Nov, 


1829 


Nov. 


183^ 


D CL.'ISS. 




qualified on Oct. Sl« 


1749 


Oct 80, 


1750 


0<.t. 


1652 


Oct. 29, 


1755 


Oct. 


1758 


Oct. 31, 


1761 


O.t. 


1764 


Oct. 


1767 


Oct. 15, 


1770 


Oct. 20, 


1773 


Oct. 


1776 


Oct. 


1779 


Oct Ii9, 


1782 


Nov. 1, 


1785 



*As there was no return of an clccllon in York county in 1760^ 
the couit continued the tormcr commissioners ; tut as Mr. Sharp 
had died, the surviving coniinissionere, and the assessors elected 
Mr McClellan in his place. Here by the way, it may be remark- 
id of George Schwaabe that he was requali£e<J Lq Oct, 1760* f©Jf 
regiiUrljr lt»}« period of g^ce ha^^tfraacated. 



120 



HISTORY OF YOr.K COUNTV. 



William M'Cleilan,* 




Nov. 1, 176G 


John Morrow, 




Oct. 1791 


Henry Wt-lsili 




0<t. 1794 


David Edie, 




Dec. 4, 1794 


Anthony Hmke), 




Oi t. 28, 1800 


Robert Rimsey, 




Oct. 24, 1R08 


Clinstopiier Heirick. 




Nov. 3, 1806 


Frederick Hoke, 




Nov. 7, l-^iOO 


John KjHiffelr, 




Nov. 2, 1812 


Joseph Reed, 




Nov. 7,' 181G 


Andrew Kitterman, 




Nov. 2, 1816 


Michael Newman, 




Nov. 6, 1821 


Matthew Clark, 




Nov. 1824 


Philip H.'nise, 




Nov. 18'.:7 


VVilliarn P.itterson, 




Nov. 18S0 


John ShullZj 




Nov. 183S 


THIRD 


CLASS. 




PatnVk Watson, 


qualified on 


Oct. 31, 1749 


James Agnew, 




O.t. 30.1753 


Robert IVlcPher?on, 




Oct. 175C 


John Frank elbfcrger,t 




Oct. 31, 1758 


John Adinm, 




Oct. 30, 1751^ 


Samuel Edie, 




Oct. 1762 


Thomas Stocton, 




Oct. 1765 


William Gt mmill. 




Oct. 27, 1768 


WilJiRm Nelson. 




Oct. 1792 


James Blark, 




Oct. 1795 


James IVrCanless, 




Dec. 3, 1798 


Samuel N. Ison, 




Oct. 26, 1801 


Jacob Hetkert4 




Nov. 19, ISOC 



*Mr- Morrison removed from the county shortly after his elec- 
tion to offi«e. To complete his term Mr. McClellan was elected or 
Oct. 10 1786; and when that term had expired, he was re-elected 
on Oct. 14, 1788, for three years, and was qualified on the 29th of 
the same month. 

tGen. Foibes, in 1758, marched with an army from Philadelphia, 
and reduced fort Du Qu6sne, which is now Pittsbur? As M; 
McPherson joined him in this, as it was then call*>d "Western Ex- 
pedition,'* it was to supply his place as commissioner that Mr. Fran- 
kelberger was elected for one year. 

$Mr. Heckert was appointed till the next election to supply the 
See of Samuel Nelson deceased : he was nominated by the com- 
"Ts, and the nomination was assented to by the court. 



HISTORY Of YORK COUNTY. l2l 

Joseph Glancy, Oct. 29, 1804 

William Collins, Nov. 6, 180T 

John Klein, Nov. 5, 1810 

Peter Reider, Nov. 2, 18 IS 

Charles Emig, Nov. 5, 1816 

Stephen T. Cooper, Nov. 2, 18 i^ 

Peter Wolfhart, Nov. 1822 

Charles Diehl, Nov. 1825 

Daniel Kimmel, Nov. 1828 

John W. Hetrick, Nov. 1831 

Samuel Harnish.* i83S 

The clerks to the commissioners have been ten in num- 
ber, viz. 

John Reed, appointed in October 1 749, and succeeded by 
John Redick, appointed in 1757, and succeeded by Henry 
. Harris, appointed in October 25, 1757, and succeeded by 
William Leas, appointed on October 30, 1764, and succeed- 
ed by John Morris, appointed in 1776, and succeeded by 
George Lewis Loeffler, appointed in Oct. 1780, and suc- 
ceeded by Jacob Spengler, appointed in 1792, and succeed- 
ed by Peter Spengler, appointed in 1815, and succeeded 
by George W. Spengler, appointed in Nov. 1823, and suc- 
ceeded by Daniel Small, the present Clerk, who was ap- 
pointed in 1829. 



TREASURERS. 

The following is a list of the treasurers of York Coun- 
ty from the erection thereof until the present time, with the 
dates of their appointments or the commencement of their 
services. 

David McConaughy, appointed in Dec. 1749. 

Thomas McCartney, Dec. 1752. 

Hugh Whitford, 1754. 

Robert McPherson, 1755. 

Frederick Gehvicks, Nov. 1756. 

•John W. Hetrick, was, in 38S3, appointed prothonotary, and 
the two other commissioners, (Jacob Dietzand WilMam Patterson,) 
appointed Samuel Harnish to supply the vacancy until the ensuing 
election. At the election in 1838, Harnish was chosen to serve 
©ut the last year of the time for which Hetrick had been elected. 

K 



123 



HISTORY Off ¥ORK COUJKTT. 



William Delap» 
John Blackburn, 
David McConaugby, 
John Blackburn, 
*Robert McPheiacn, 
Michael Schwaabe, 
tMichael Hahn, 
John Hay, 
Rudolph Spangler, 
John Forsyth, 
John Strohman, 
Peter Kurtz, 
George Spangler, 
William Nes, 
Henry Smyser, 
John Voglesong, 
Peter Ahl, 
Jacob Bayjer, 
Daniel HartmaDt 





i75r. 


Dec 


1759. 


Oct 


1764. 


Oct. 


1766. 


Aue;u6t 


1767 


Oct. 


1769. 


-^pril, 


1777. 




1778. 


Oct. 


1801. 


Nov. 


1805. 




1808. 


Nov. 


1811. 


Nov. 


1814. 


Nov. 


isir. 


Nov. 


1820. 


Nov. 


1829. 


Nov. 


1826. 


Nov. 


1829. 


Nov. 


1832 



CHAPTER XVI. 



JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

The follcwirg tables exhibit the ncmea of all the justi- 
ces of the pesce snd cf the Court of Common Flees for th« 
county of York, with the dates of their respective commis- 
sions. 

•Robert McPherson was appointed to supply the place of John 
BiacLburn, doceased. 

jExtract from the records of the proceedings of the Commit 
sioners, for April 10, 1777. — "Whereas the late treasurer, Michael 
Schwaabe, is a priponer of war with the enemy, and is thereby 
incapable of exercising and doing the duty of treasurer, and where- 
as it is abeolutely necessary that some fit person should be appoint- 
ed in the room of the late treasurer, therefore the members pre#- 
ent unnaimouely voted in Michael Haho, Esq., to h« treasurer i» 
«be room of Michael Schwaabe, £«q.'* 



HISTORY OP TORiC OOUKTT. 



its 



TABLE I. 
justices before the Revolution. ^^\ number of the 
following gentlemen were cominissioned^icice or more fre- 
quently. We give the d^ite of their ^rs^ comniission^ only. 



John Day, 


commissioaed Sept. 1749 


Thomas Cox, 


Sept. 1749 


John Wright, Jim. 


Sept. 1749 


George Scliwaabe, 


Sept. 1749 


Matthew Dill, 


Sept. 1749 


Hans Hamilton, 


Sept. 1749 


Patrick Watson, 


Sept. 1749 


George Sieve nso.n, 


Sept. 1749 


John Witherow, 


April 175 i 


Walter Buchanan, 


Do. 


Jofm Blackbornc, 


Do. 


John Pope, 


Do. 


-AViJiiam Griffith, 


Do. 


Herman Updegraff, 


Do. 


John Adlutn, 


October, 1755 


Thomas Armor, 


Do. 


Richard Brown, 


Do. 


Hugh Whiteford, 


Do. 


Michael Tanner, 


Do. 


Martin Eichelberger, 


January, 1760 


David Kirkpatnck, 


April, 1761 


Abraham NesLit, 


Do, 


Archibald McGrew 


Do. 


David Jameson, 


October, 1764 


Michael Schwaabe, 


Do. 


Samuel John-ton, 


Do. 


Samuel Edip, 


Do. 



Matthew Dill, (son of Matthew Dill, who was com- 
missioned in 1749.) Do. 
James Welsh, Do. 
Robert McPherson, Do. 
John Smith, Do- 
Henry Schlegel, Do. 
Thomas Minshail, Do. 
Cunningham Sample, Do. 
William Dunlop, Do. 
Joseph Hutton, Do. 
William Smith, December, 1764 



3 24 HISTORY OF rORK COUNTT. 



Kichard >IcA lister, 


March I77i 


William Rankin, 


Do. 


Joseph Updegraff, 


Do. 


David McConaughy, 


April 1774 


William Scott, 


Do. 


Benjamin Donaldson, 


Do. 


William Bailey, 


Do. 


William Leas, 


Do. 


William McCaskey, 


September, 1774 


Josiah Scott, 


Do. 


William McLean, 


Do. 


Thomas Latta, 


Do. 


TABLE 


ir. 



Justices since the Revolution, and prior to the forma- 
tion of the present Constitution of Pennsylvania. These 
commissions were granted by the convention v*'hich framed 
the first constitution of Pennsylvania, and by the President 
and Council under that Constitution. 

Robert McPherson, September, 1776 

Martin Eichelberger, Do. 

Samuel Edie, Do. 

David McConaughy, Do. 

Jlichard McAlister, Do. 

Henry Schlegel, Do. 

Matthew Dill, Do. 

William Rankin, Do. 

William Leas, Do. 

William Bailey, Do. 

William Scoit, Do. 

William Smith, Do. 

William McCaskoy, Do. 

Josiah Scott, Do. 

Thomas Latta, Do. 

William McLean, Do. 

John Mickel, Do. 

David Jameson, June, 1777 

Samuel Ewing. Do. 

David Watson, Do. 

John Chamberlain, Do. 

Andrew Thompson. Do. 

JohnHmkeJ, Do. 



I 



HISTORY OF YORK COLjNTY. 



1S5 



John Herbaugh, 
Robert Stevenson, 
Archibald McLean, 
James Nailor, 
Thomas Douglas, 
David Messerley, 
Benjamin Pedan, 

Joseph Reed, 

Thomas Fischer, 

Peter Wolf, 

Frederick Eichelberger, 

Jacob Eichelberger, 

William Mitchell, 

John Rankin, 

David Beatty, 

Robert Chambers, 

Michael Schwaabe, 

George Stake, 

Cunningham Sample, 

Michael Hahn, 

Thomas Lilly, 

William Cochran, 

Jacob Kudisill 

Michael Schmeiser, 

William Gilliland, 

Daniel May, 

Conrad Sherman, 

Robert Hamersly, 

Jacob Barnitz, 

Henry Miller, 

David Beatty, 

Bernhart Zeigler, 

Robert Mcllhanny, 

Elihu Underwood, 

Jacob Dritt, 



June, 1777 
Do, 
Do. 
Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 
Sept, 177r 

Do. 
March, 177S 
June, 1779 
May, 1780 

Do. 

Jan. 1781 

Nov. 17S2 

Do. 
Aug. 17;8S 
Sept. 1764 

Do. 
Oct. 17S4 

Do. 

Do. 
Nov. 1784 
April, 1785 
June, 1765 
July, 1735 
March, 1786 
Aug. 1786 
June. 1787 

Do. 

May, 1788 

June, 1788 

Sept. 1789 



TABLE HI. 



Justices of the Peace under the present Constitution. 
Those who resided when commissioned, within the pres- 
ent limits of thejirsf district,* composed of York Borougi* 

*The legislature on the 4th of April 1803, required the com- 
jciasionurs ot the differeut couaties to lay mi their counties i»t> 



3S€ 



BISTORT OF YORK COUNTY. 



and Township, and part 
Andrew Billmeyerj 
Conrad Laub, 
William McLean, 
Jacob Hay, 

George Lewis heofRetj 
Andrew Johnson, 
John Forsythe, 
Jacob Heckert« 
Peter Mundorff, 
Jacob Le fever, 
Ignatius Leitner, 
Kphraim Penington, 
John Strornan, 
Thopnas Whitaker^ 
George Haller, — — 
Daniel Heckert, 
Joseph Morris, 
Henry Schaeffer, 
Charles F. Fischefy 
Martin Boyer, 
John Youse, 
Louis Shive, 
Henry Riithrauf!', — ' 
Penrose Robinson, 
George Klinefelter, 
Francis IVIcDermott, 
Jacob Seitz, 
Philip Saiyscr, 



of Springgarden, were 

commissioned Aug. 29, i?9l 

Dec. 14, 1792 

Do. 

Oct. 6, 1794 

Nov. 6, 1795 

Do. I 

June 2, 1799 I 

June 18, 1800 1 

April 2, 1802 f 

April 2, 1804 

April 1, 1806 

Sept. 30, 1803 

Feb. 15, 1809 

Jan. 3, 1811 

Nov. 1, 1813 

May 15, 1815 

Feb. 14, 1917 

March 31, 1817 

Dec. 17, 1819 

Nov. 1, 1820 

April 5, 1821 

July 17, 1821 

Aug. 3, 1821 

Get. 31, 1921 

Dec. 9, 1823 

Dec. II. 1823 

Dec. 12, 1823 

March 10, 1825 



districts for justices of the peace. & to make returns to the Secretary 
&c. containing the number and deacription of the bounds of each 
district, the nun)ber of acting justices in each, and, as near as might 
be, the place of their residence. la pursuance of this request, the 
commissioners of York county met, and after having divided the 
county into fourteen districts, and collected the information requir- 
ed completed their report and set their hands and aflBxed the seal of 
office thereto on the 26th of October, 1803. From the report it ap- 
pears at that time there were 6540 taxables in the couuty and 
ctiog justices. 



HJStORY Of 'fOEE CoV^tt, lH 

John Smith, March 26, 1824 

Anthony Kniseiy, March 26, 1824 

Michael Gardfier, March 21, 1825 

Francis McDermott, Nov. 9, 1825 

Zachariah Spanglerj Aug. 25, 1828 

George Laurnan, Nov. lO, 1829 

Benjamin Lanius, Dec. 10, 1829 

Jacob Eichelbergerj Dec. 14, 1829 

Jacob Lehmanj February 19, 18S0 

John A. Wilson, ^.i^ ' Jan. 2S, 1832 

John Sliaeffer, Feb. 25, 1833 

Benjamin Zeigler, Do. 

SECOND DISTRICT. 
Composed of the townships of Heidelberg and Manheim? 

inchiding the borough of Hanover. 
Philip Wolfhart, [The commission is not to be found on re* 
cord.l 



Henry Welshj 


Oct. 29, 1795 


John Hinkel, 


Jan. S, 1803 


Michael Hellmatij 


April 1, 1805 


Anthony Hinkel? 


Feb. 15, 1809 


Peter Reider, 


May 6, 1814 


John Hoshauer^ 


Dec. 9, 1816 


David Shuhz, 


Dee. 18, 18l6 


John L. Hinkel, 


March 14, 181? 


Peter Storm, 


Dec. 21, 1818 


Michael Lechner, 


Feb. 2^, 1819 


David T. Storm, 


Dec. 11, 182G 


Charles T. Melsheimer;, 


Feb. 18, 1822 


Michael Bucher, Jun, 


Nov. 27. 2 82$ 


Peter Overdeer, 


May 5, 1824 


Luther H. Skinner, 


Oct. 20, 1825 


George Freysinger, 


Oct SI, 1825 


John Maulj 


Aug. 12, 1831 


THIRD DISTRICT, 


Composed of the townships uf 


Newberry and Fair- 


view. 




Martin Shettcf, 


April 2 S, 1792 


Henry Greiger, 


March 8, 8796 


Michael Simpson, 


April 1 9, 1197 


Robert Hamefsiijr, 


Feb. 1®, nn 



J^g HISTORY OF 70I\K COUNTY. 

James Todd, March 28, WJO 

John Soence, April 1, 1805 

Adam Kister, -Jan. 1, 1807 

Michael Hart, March 30, 180<^ 

Robert Thornburg, March 29, iSlS 

Isaac Kirk, Feb. 2, 1814 

Frederick Stoner, Bee. 23, 1814 

Mills Hays, Aug. 13, 1817 

Isaac Spence, March 2, 1818 

George A?hton, Jan. 7, 1820 

Henry Etter, Oct. 17, 1822 

William Ciilbertson, Jan. 19,1823 

John C. G.oom, Feb. 7, 1825 

John Rankin, May 2, 1827 

Jacob Kirk, Jun. April 15, 1830 

John G. Kister, April 4, 1831 

John Thompson, March 30, 1831 

James Nichols, April 2 4, 1833 

Jacob Smith, Do. 

Joseph McCreary, Jan. 30, 1834 

FOURTH DISTRICT. 
Composed of the townships of Chanceford and Lower 
Chanceford. 



William Morrison*^ 






Oclober 1, 1799 


William Ross, 




[Comraisson not recorded.] 


James Patterson, 






June 18, 1800 


Joseph Herr, 






April 1, 1805 


William Morrison,- 


— - . 




April 1, 1800 


William Douglass, 






Oct. 20, 1808 


John Geben, 






March 22, 1811 


John Finley, 






Oct. 9, 1814 


John Lane, 






Jan. 11, 1816 


Hugh Long, 






Feb. 4, 1818 


Samuel Nelson, 






Dec. 11, 1820 


Andrew Clarkson, 






April 1, 1822 


Andrew Duncan. 






Do. 


Hugh Ross, 






March 31, 1823 




FIFTH DISTRICT. 




Composed of the 


townships 


of Warrington and VVash- 


ingtoQ. 








Jl. Underwood^ 






Aug. 29, 1791 



HISTORY OF YORK COU?fTY 129 

John Hippel, June 18, 1800 

William Squibb, Oct. 24, 1807 

George Hiiber, March 29, ] 808 

Frederick Herraan, March 28, 18U 

David Bauer, Dec. 9,* l 82S 

Jacob Strickell, j)o_ 

William Ross, March 5, 1830 

John S. Smith, May 23, 1633 

. Abraham Griffith, Feb 7 1834 

SIXTH DISTRICT. * ' 

Composed of the townships of Monaghan and Frank- 
lin. 

Thomas Black, l^ov. 22 1797 

Francis Culbertson, March 28,1799 

John Blackley Jones^ • Dec. 9 1799 

David Meyer, March 10^ I8l3 

Wiilium McMillan, Jan. 9, 18 16 

William Divin, Jan. 24, 1818 

Peter Wolfhart, March 15, 1820 

Matthew Black, April 1, 1822 

Hugh O'Hail. Do. 

Hugh McMullen, Dec, 5, 1823 

Daniel Bailey, June 19, 1827 

Robert Hamersly, April 23, 1829 

Thomas Godfrey, Sept. 24, 1829 

James O'Hail, July 15, 1334 

SEVENTH DISTRICT. 

Composed of the township of Shrewsbury including 
Strasburg. 

Henry Rehman, June 18, 1800 

Caleb Low, April 2, 1807 

George Klinefelder, JVov. i, 1813 

Jacob Rothrock, May le, 18IS 

Joshua Hendricks, Do. 

Jacob Rothrock. June 10, 1822 

Henry Snyder, S3pt. 15, 1823 

Jacob N. Hildebrand, . May 8, 1S.S3 

EIGHTH DISTRICT. 

Composed of the township of Codorus. 

John Brien, Aug. 21, 1797 



June 18, 


1800 


Dr 




April 2, 


1802 


March 15, 


1809 


March 18, 


1817 


March 99, 


1S21 


Way 28, 


1823 


Feb. 23, 


1883 


Feb. «5, 


1883 


March 1, 


18S4 



ISO HISTORT OF YORK COUNTT. 

Henry Miller, 
Johtt Drexler, 
Henry Strickhauser, 
Peter Reidar, 
John Hendrick, 
Graham McCamant, 
Daniel Lease, 
George Fisher, 
Jefferson Droiit, 
Jacob D eh off, 

NINTH DISTRICT. 

C)n:iposed of the townships of Dover and Conewago 
John Sfiarp, [Commission not recorded.] 

John Bull, 
Henrv Stover, 
William Caldwell, 
John McCreary, 
John Aughinbaugh, 
Koss Bull, 

TENTH DISTRICT. 
Composed of the township of Paradise* 
William Zicgler, 
Henry Meyer, 
Jacob Ernst, 
Henry Buse, 

ELEVENTH DISTRICT. 

Composed of the townships of Manchestej 
chectcr. 

Yost Herbach, 
George Philip Zeigler, 
Andrew Ritter, 
John Weyer, 
Frederick Eichelbergcr, 
John Qiiic-kell, 
Adam Wol(f. 
John Weyery 
Jacob Sinyser, 
Charl«3 Bishop, 
Anthony Dessenbcrger, 
Cornel C.Bonham, 



Dec 


3, 


1799 


Feb. 


15, 


1809 


Jan. 


SO, 


1814 


Jane 


10, 


1823 


Dec. 


9, 


1823 


Dec. 


13, 


1823^ 


A"g. 


25, 


1796 


July 


11. 


1809 


June 


11, 


1810 


April 


4, 


1833 


and West Maa- 


Drtc. 


^0, 


179 4m 
1799f 


Mav 


21, 


Dec 


..8, 


1799 


June 


18, 


1800 


Jan. 


7, 


1805 


Dec. 


19, 


1808 


March 2 4, 


1817 


Apn 


12, 


1813 


June 


12, 


1822 


March 26, 


182 4 


Feb 


. 6, 


1833 


March 


25, 


1833 



BISTORr OF YORK COUKTT. tSl 

TWELFTH DISTRICT. 
Composed of the townships of fleiltun and Windsor and 

pnrt of Springgarden. 

Henry TysoD, April 10, 1793 

SamuclJago, June 20, 1797 

Jacob Licbhart, Dec. 10, 1799 

Henry Lie bhart, June 18, 1800 

Christian Rathfon, Jan. 2, i804 

^'^ ,'•''-' ^'",^'' April 1, 1806 

Matthias Baker, March IS, 1«09 

John Welschans, Maich 29, 1813 

William Wilson, March 2, 1818 

Wilham White, March 2, 18:21 

Christian Haniaker, March 2, 1822 

Samuel Johnson, March 26 1824 

Jacob Fiics, p^ 

John Ruby, Feb. 26,*1828 

Adam Paules, Aug. S, 1829 

Geoige Addig, j^^^ 7^ leso 

George Shei.berger, lyiay 23, 18SS 

Samuel LandeF, jujy jg 1934 

THIRTEENTH DISTRICT. 
Composed of the township of Hopewell. 
William Smith,* 

Andrew Duncan [Commission not recorded.] 

Thomas Jordan, A^,„ jO 1800 

^,^'^" Smith, Aug. 16, 1821 

AdamEbaugh, Feb. 6, 1834 

Henry Fulton, Feb. 11,1834 

Sampson ^nntb, Aprils, 18g4 

FOURTEENTH DISTRICT. 
Composed of the townfihips cf Fawn and Peach Bottom. 
Jacob GibEon, [Cc^mission not recorded.] 

^»S^y«^» March 7, 1799 

27\\f^t^wcVLfT^Z^^ in the report of the cciBn^isdoiierB of 
^th Uct. 18C8; and thty def^cnU his residence as being nearly in 
J^-.^j'w.r'i*"^ Hopewell townshii,.- When his con.imKicnis a 
fn-rTn fJ.T*'^''" /^0P«^€" wasisBi^ed, I cannot find: but 
«n 7ih ^ec. 1764 be was for the first lime commissioned as a JudM 
of the Courts of York County ; and after the revolution he was re- 
K «♦ I'.Si^^'Vx.*^ ^^* "f * ^^^^^ °^ 1«^^ J^'^e 1777, and on 17th 
o«Ji\ 7 \v^5" upright magistrate, and unshaken friend of hk 

to Wt£ %\XhI '"'^''' ''^'*""^' ""'^ '"^ ''''"^' ''*' 



132 



HISTORY OF TORK CQVNTX. 



William Anderson, 
James Walton, 
John Livingston, 
Samuel Jordan, 
James Wilson. 
James Johnson, 
Robert Cunningham, 
William Coultson, 
Joseph James, 
James Ramsey, 
Samuel Irsvin, 
Joseph Bennet, 
Thomas Henderson, 



March 29, 
Do. 
Dec. 20, 
Dec. 5, 
Jan. 24, 
March 1, 
March 3 J, 
Dec. 9, 
March 26, 
March 5, 
July 8, 
April 4, 
Feb. 20, 



180>J 

1810 
1815 

1818 
1820 
4823 
1823 
1824 
'1830 
1830 
1832 
1S34 



CHAPTER XVH. 



CENSUS OF YORK COUNTY, 

At all eniamerations^ between 1790, and 18^0^ 
inclusive. 

In 1790, there were 
Free white males, of 16 years and up- 
wards, including heads of fami- 
lies, 9,213 
Free white males under 16, 9,527 
Free white females, including heads of 

families, 17,671 

All other free persons, 837 

Slaves, 499 



Total number, 



37;747' 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. ISS 



CENSUS OF 1800. 




Free white males^ 




under 10 years of age, 


4,280 


of 10 and nnder 16, 


2,126 


of 16 and nnder £6, 


2,146 


of 26 and nnder 45, 


2,480 


of 45 and upwards, 


1,726 



Total, free white males, 12^758 
Free white females, 

under 10 years of age, 4^248 

of 10 and under 16,' 9,061 

of 16 and under 26, 2,202 

of 26 and under 45, 2,305 

of 45 and upwards, 1,645 

Total, free white females, 12,456 

To which, add, males 12,758 

Total free white population, 25,214 
All other free persons, including Indians 

not taxed, 352 

Slaves, 77 



Total population in 1800, 25,643 

CENSUS OF 1810. 

Free white males, 15,919 

Free white females, 15,410 



Total, whites, 31,329 

All other free white persons, 607 

Slaves, ' 22 

Total population in 1810, 31^958, 



I«t4 HISTORT OP YORK COUNTT. 

CENSUS OF 1820. 

Free white males, 19,256 

Free white females, 18,704 

All other white persons, 12 

Total white population, 37,972 

Free persons of color, males, 382 

Do. females, 399 

Slaves, males, 2 

Do. females, 4 

Total population in 1820, 38,75^ 

Of the population in 1820? there were 

Foreigners, not naturalized, 509 

Persons engaged in Agriculture, 5,710 

Do, Do. Manufactures, 2^796 

Do. Do. Commerce, 106 

And the population to the square mile t 

was 43 

CENSUS OF 1830. 



BY TOWNSHIPS 




Codorus, 


2429 


Conewago, 


1093 


Dover, 


1874 


East Manchsster, 


2198 ,, 


Fairview, 


1892 1 

785 ^ 


Fawn, 


Franklin, 


1003 


Hellam, 


1876 


Hanover Borough, 


998 


Heidelberg, 


1528 


Hopewell, 


1941 


Lower Chanccfordj, 


1051 , 


Manheim, 


1361 J 



53ISTORT or YOBK COUHtT, 155 

Monaglian, i2\4» 

Newberry J 1856 

Paradise, 1819 

Peach Bottom, ^^^ 

Shrewsbury, ^^^ ^ 

Springgarden, IGOS 

Upper Chanceford, 11'/'' 

Washington, 1^37 

Warrington, 1229 

Westmanchester, 1269 

Windsor, ^760 

York, 1181 

York Borough, 4216 

42,859 

Population in 1830 to the square mile, 4J 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



PROTHOXOTARIES. 



The following is a list of the Prothonotarics 
«)f the court of Common Pleas for the county of 
York, with the years of their several appoint- 
ments to office. 



George Stevenson, 


appointed in 1749 


Samuel Johnston, 


1764 


Archibald M'Lean, 


1777 


Henry Miller, 


1786 


Joh-nEdie, 


11794 



i36 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

Charles William Hartley, 1800 

William Barber, 1806 

Michael W. Ash, 1823 

Jlichard Porter, _ 1830 

John W. Iletrick, 1833 

CLERKS TO THE COURT OF QUAR 

TER SESSIONS. 
George Stevenson, appointed in 1740 

Samuel Jolinston, 1764 

Archibald M'Lean, 1777 

Henry Miller, 1786 

John Edie, 1794 

Charles W. Hartley, 1800 

William Barber, 1S06 

Adam King, 1818 

Robert Hamersly, 1821 

Adcxm King, 1823 

Jacob Spangler, 1827 

Jacob B. AVentz, 1830 

CLERKS OR REGISTERS TO THE 
ORPHANS' COURT. 



George Stevenson, 


appointed in 


1749 


Samuel Johnston, 




1764 


Archibald AL'Lean, 




1777 


Henry Miller, 




178(5 


John Edie, 




179 i. 


Charles W. Hartley, 




1800 


William Barber, 




1806 


Adam King, 




1818 


Robert Hamersly, 




1821 


Adam King, 




1823 


Jacob Spangler, 




1827 


Jacob B. Wentz,^ 




1^30 



HISTOHY OP YORK COUNT?, US'? 

REGISTERS. 

The registers for the probate of wills and for 

granting letters of administration, are as fol 
lows: 

George Stevenson, appointed in 1749 

Samuel Johnston, 1764 

Archibald M'Lean, 1777 

Jacob Barnitz, 1785 

Jacob B. WentZj 1824 

Frederick Eichelberger, 1829 

William P. Fisher, 1830 

Jesse Spangler, 1830 

Michael Doudel, IbSS 

RECORDERS OF DEEDS. 

George Stevenson, appointed in I749 

Samuel Johnston, 1764 

Archibald M'Lean, 1777 

Jacob Barnitz, 1785 

Jacob B. Wentz, 1824 

Frederick Eichelberger, 1829 

Charles Nes, 1830 

NOTARIES PUBLIC. 

The Legislature of Pennsylvania, on the 
5th of March 1791, directed the appointment 
of notaries public in different parts of the state. 
Those of York county are as follows, viz. 
John Doll, appointed in 179I 

John Morris, (father) 1792 

John Morris, (son) 1806 

George Carothers, 1810 

George W. Spangler, 1814 

Henry Schaeffer, 1818 

Charles F. Fisher, 1820 



JS8 HISTORY OF YORK CODXTY, 

CHIEF RANGER. 

George Stevenson, who was so much honoured in the 
early clays of this county,* supported an office vviiich is 
now unknown to our laws. James Hamilton, deputy gov- 
ernor of Pennsylvania, constituted him on the 7th of Jan- 
uary 1750, Chief R(ing€r of and for the county of York: 
granting ''full power and authority to range, view and 
inspect all our v/oods and lands within the said county, 
and to seize, take up, and appropriate to our use all and 
every such wild colts or young horses, cattle, and swine, 
as shall be found within the bounds of said county, that are 
not marked by the owners of their dams, and are liable to 
be seized by law; and also all marked strays for which nolj 
lawful owner can be found, that may be taken up in the*' 
said county; and to publish every such stray in the most 
public places oftiiesaid county for the space of one year, 
and also keeping some public mark of their being strays 
for the said space about them hereby requiring you to sue 
and prosecute all persons presuming to act contrary to law 
in cutting down or destroying any of our timber-trees or 
wood, or that shall in any wise invade the powers hereby 
granted to you within the said county/' 

This commission of Chief Ranger induces us to trans- 
cribe a few passages connected therewith from the records 
of Quarter Sessions for the county. 

*'Mose3 Wallace of Chanceford township, his marks for 
horses, cattle, sheep, swine &c. acfop on the left ear &c. 
Brand an I on the near shoulder and buttocks. April 25th^ 
5751." 

**James Hefiick, his marks, a crop and slit on the of 
ear, and a slit in the near ear. Brand a fleur-de-luce, 
on the n«ar buttocks. May 2d 1751" 

*'AlexanderCieiu;hton, Shrewsbury township, his brand 
fcr horses kc, A. C. on the near buttocks; and marks for 
cattle, slieep, swine &c. a crop in the off ear, a half penny 
ont of the forepart t)f the near ear. June 26th 1751." ' ii 

''The milks of Jacob Shelter's hogs and cattle; the off' ear I 
cropt, and the near slit. Entered the 10th of January 
^757.'' 

•Stevenson, besides beina: Prothonotary, Re£;iater and Recorder, 
Justice, & ; Ulc. wns I kewise Ihe first deputy surveyor of th* 
€«aixty, he bsjuo; coiomiat'ioued as such on the 20th of Oct 1749. 



c. 

e,|! 



HISTORY OF TORE COUNTY. 1 S9 



CHAPTER XIX. 

DELEGATES TO CERTAIIV PROVIN^ 

ClAL AIVD STATE COlVVENTlOJ^fS, 

FROM THE COUNTY OF YORK. 

1. The provincial meeting of deputies from the several 
counties, which was held at Philadelphia on the 15th of 
July 1774, and was continued by adjournments from daj 
to day: 

James Smith, 
Joseph Donaldson, 
Tiiomas Hartley. 

2. The provincial convention which was held at Phila- 
delphia on the 23d of January 1776, and was continued by 
adjournmenls until the 28th of the same month: 

James Smith, Esq., 
Thomas Hartley, 
Joseph Donaldson, 
George Eichelberger, 
John Hay, 
George Irwin, 
Michael Schmeiaer. 

S. The provincial conference of committees at PhiJa- 
delphia, which begaa on the 18th of June, 1776, and was 
fonlinued until the 25th of the same month:. 

Col. James Smith, 

Col. Robert McPherson, 

Col. Richard McAlister, 

Col. David Kennedy, 

Col. William Rankin, 

Col. Henry Schlegel, 

Mr. James Edgar, 

Mr. John Hay, 

Capt. Joseph Read. 

4. The convention which was held at Philadelphia ©b 
the 15th of July 1776, and was continued by adjournments 
wntil the 27th of the following September. (This conven- 
sion framed the first constitution of the State of Pennsylya^ 
»ia.) . ' 

John HajTj 



140 BISTORT OP YORK COUNTY. 

James Ed^ar, 
William Kankin, 
Henry Si- 1 1 lege!, 
James Snvith, 
Robert McPherson, 
Joseph Donaldson. 

5. The council of censors, the first day of whose meet- 
ing was on the lOtli of November, 1783: ^ 

Thomas Hartley, J 

Kichard McAlister. ' 

6. The c* nvention which framed the second constitu- 
tion of the commonweaUh of Pennsylvania, viz. that of 2d 
September 1790. 

Henry Miller, 
Henry Sthlegel, 
William Read, 
Benjimin Tyson, 
Benjrimin Pedan, 
Matthew Bill. 



FAIRS. 

These joyful institutions are mentioned very early in the 
kjBtory of our town. Even in the original instructions for 
Uyingit out are these remarkable words. *'The privilege 
•fa fair shall be granted, for which purpose I desire to be 
certified the most convenient times twice in a year for the 
sale of cattle.'' The grant of this privilege however, on 
•ccount of the sparsity of population, was for some time 
delayed. But when nature had became more divested of 
her rude attire, and the land had increased in the multi- 
lude of its inhabitants, our sturdy fathers began soberly to 
think on the enjoyment of that privilege to which many of 
Ihem had been acctistomed before their emigration to this 
^ildernegg. At length what they wished for, was obtain- 
ed. Thomas Penn, then lieutenant governor of Pennsyl- 
T%iMa, complied with their requests on the 29th of October^ 
^7^; such U the date of the iastument, gigned by him at 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 141 

Philadelphia. A {3art of this charier of privileges is as fol- 
ows. 

•'Whereas it hag been represented to us that it would hs 
of great service and utility to the inhabitants of the town 
and county of York, thit two fairs be held yearly in the 
said town, for baying- and selling go^ih, wares, merchan- 
dize, and cattle; Kii9iv ye^ that we, fivouring- the reasonable 
requestor the inhabitants, and considering the fl)urishing 
state to which the town hath arrived through their industry, 
have, of our free will, granted, and do, by these presents, 
for us, our heirs, and successors, grant to the present and 
succeeding inhabitants of the town, that they shall and may, 
forever hereafter, have and keep in the said town, two 
tairs in the year, the one of them to besiin on the ninth 
day of June yearly, to be hell in High Street, and to^ 
continue that day and the day fallowing*, and the other of 
the' said fiiirs iQbe held, in the aforesaid place, on the se- 
cond day of November, every year, and the next day at ■ 
ter it, with all the liberties and customs to such fairs belong=« 
ing or incident." 

This charter was received as a high & peculiar blessing. 
Travelling dealers in small wares tjien found themselves, 
with a punctual devotion, at these semiannual congrega- 
tions. But as the number of stated merchants increased, 
our ancient and venerable institutions began to be shorn of 
their glory. Yetwlien,in ir8r,the town was erected into 
a borough, the legislature particulaily continued this privi- 
lege of our fathers, unto their children. But manners were 
changing; one part of the community was growing more re'- 
lined, and another more corrupted; fairs had degenerated 
from the primitive purity of former years, and become but 
a scene of a wild merriment or of a riotous commotion* 
At last on account of the degeneracy of the times, the leg- 
islature on the 29th of January 1816, prohibited the hold*- 
ing of fairs within the borough of York, and declared such 
holdincr to be a common nuisance.* Yet bo great is the 

*riie iin-Ti-^ixte cauje of tho prohibition wm this. On the 23th 
of Ovtober IS 15, bein^ the day of the autu:na fair, a yciung 0»an 
named Robert Dunn, lost his life in a very melancholy tnaiincC' 
At the court in Novenibor following-, when three peraons were of- 
rai^ne'i for the murder of Dunn, the Grand Jury presented the 
hoidin^? of fairs as a public nuisance. In January 1316, the persoru 
who had before been arraigned, received their trial, the end of 



3 42 HIStORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

inveteracy of ancient custom, the former stated days are e- 
ven now but too punctually obsei ved. A few years hence 
the observance of these institutions will have ceased as to 
our county; those who succeed us, may, proud in their own 
belief, look upon these days as times of a rude and unpol- 
ished wilderness. 



*'RATES IN TAVERNS." 



1 



. The general assembly of Pennsylvania, considering that 
Inn-holders See. exacted excessive rates for their wine, pro- 
vender, &,c. made a law on the 3 1st of May 17 1 8, by which 
the justices of the peace, in their quarter sessions, should 
set such reasonable prices as they should see fit. The jus- 
tices of York County on the 2Sih of January 1752, estab- 
lished the following rates and prices: we give them in an 
extract taken word for word from the records of the Court 
of Quarter Sessions. 

"One quart sangaree made with one pint of > 

good Madeira wine and with loaf sugar, ) 
A bowl of punch made with one quart water ) 

with loaf-sugar and good Jamaica spirits, ) 
One pint good Madeira wine, 
One pint good Vidonia wine, 
One pint of good Port wine, 
One quart of mimbo made with West-India } 

rum and loaf-sugar, ^ 

One quart of mimbo made with New-England } 

rum, end loaf sugar, j 

One gill of good West-India Rum, 
One gill of good New-England Rum, 
One gill of good whiskey. 
One quart of good beer, 
One quart of good cider, 

which was a conviction of manslaughter. Petitions were now pre- 
sented to the legislature, who con^plicd with the wishes of every 
honest citizen. 





s. 


D. 





1. 


6. 


(( 


1. 


6. 


a 


1. 


3. 


li 


0. 


10. 


a 


1. 


0. 



0. 10. 
0. 9. 



C( 


0. 


4 


u 


0. 


S 


(( 


0. 


2 


a 


0. 


4 


ti 


0. 


4 



ll 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTT. 14S 

One man's breakfast, " 0. 6. 

One man's dinner, " 0. 8. 

One man's supper, " 0. 6. 

One horse at hay twenty four hours, " 0. 10. 

One horse at hay one night, " *0. 8. 

Half a gallon of good oats, " 0. 3. 

*'The above rates were settled by the court and proclaim-^ 
ed by the crier in open court of general quarter sessions, in 
pursuance of an act of general assembly of this province in 
such case made and provided." 

The above continued for some years to be ihe tavern 
rates within the county of York. But the statutes requiring 
them, have long since been repealed; and inn-holders are 
now permitted, as they ought to be, like other personsj tq 
regulate their own prices. 



CHAPTER XX, 



COURTS. 



The first Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peac« 
for the County of York, was holden at York, on ''the 
thirty first day of October, in the twenty third year of the 
reign of our sovereign Lord, George the Second, by the 
Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, 
Defender of the Faith, &c. Anno Domini 1749. Before 
John Day Esquire, and his Associates, Justices of the 
said court" &c. The second court of Quarter Sessions was 
held on iheSOth of January 1750. 

The earliest records of *'An Orphans' Court held at 
York, for the county ofYork are dated on the first day of JNToy, 
in *Hhe twenty third year of the reign of our sovereign 
Lord, George the second, by the Grace of God, of Great 
Brit ain, Fiance and Ireland King, Defender of the Faitii 



144 HISTORY OP TORK COUNTY. 

&c. Anno Domini ore (liousand Fevtr hundred and for- 
ty nine, Before Jdin Day, Thomas Cox, and Palrirk 
Watson Esquires, Justices &.c." 

The court of Ccn^.mon Plecs was organized in October 
1749, and the £rst suit \m.s brought an January term 
1750. 

The first pnnel of Jurors for York County was return- 
ed by Hans H.-milton on the 3 1st ef Octol er 1749. Ihe 
jurors were ef\en'.efn in nunber, and these were their 
u&niGF, viz. ]Michi;el M'Crtaiy, Wjllirm IVrLellan, James 
Agrew, Kidard Proctor, Ihgh lirighiim, John Pope, 
James Hall, William Prector, William Betty, Nathan 
Dicks, Jen m Loi;chndge, Ihcnias Hosock, Tiicmas Stl 
iick. Scmoel Mocre, Jianes Smith, Kithiird Brown, and 
Thomas Neily. 

Though courts were regulaily held from the first erec- 
tion of the coui ty, yit a ccuitheuj-e was not built till {i 
seme years afteiwaids. The legii^l.Tiure on the 19ih off 
August, 1749, apjointcd Thon^as Cox, Michael T;mnfr, 
George Schwa; be, Nathan Hi:ssey and J< hn Wright, 
trustees to jure hcise ''a piece of land in srme conveni- 
ent place in the county, to be r)prov(d cf Ly the gover- 
nor," ''and thereon to erect a courthouse and prison suffi- 
cient to acccnimedate the public service of the county 
and for the ease and convenience of the inhcbitants.'" 
Nothing however was efiectually done towards buildiig 
the courthouse until the year 1754. In that year l};o 
commisf-icneisof the county made an acreemeiit with Wil- 
liam Willis of Manchester township, biirklaycr, to build 
the walls cf tlie he use; with Henry Claik ol W^arrington 
township, to saw and deliver the scantlings, for the build- 
ing, and moreover with John Mecm and Jacob Klein, car- 
penters of Yoik town, to do all the joiners and carpenters 
work. Robert Jones engaged to bring 7C00 shingles from 
Philadelphia; and in like manner many oilier particular a- 
greements were made. The work, however, progressed but 
slowly; for the building was not cempleted till early in the 
jear 1756.* The building thus erected still stands, though 
n his been a number of times ''internally rcgenernted.-' 

*Th» towD clock, which graces th« court-hous«, WM obtaia»dift 
It)* y«ar 1819. 



HIS TOUT OF YORK COUNTY. 146 

Before the erection of the building, the courts were held 
in private houses. The commissioneis* usually held their 
meetings at the house of George Schwaabe. 

DISTRICT COURT. 

?n 1826 a district court was established for the counties 
of York and Lancaster, of which the Hon. Ebenezer G. 
Bradford was appointtd president judge, and Alexander 
Thompson, associate. Judge Thompson being appointed 
president jndge of the common ];leas of the 16th judicial 
district composed of the counties of Franklin, Bedford and 
Somerset, the Hon. Alexander L. Hays was appointed his 
successor. 

In 1833, York and Lancaster were formed into separate 
districts and a judge appoint* d lor each district. I'he Hon. 
Alexander L. Hays was appointed judge of the Lancaster 
(district, and the Hon. Daniel Dnrkee <f the York district. 

These courts have concurrent jurisdiction wiih the com- 
mon pleas courts, and causes are transferable from the com- 
mon pleas to the district courts. 

The salary of the judge of the district court is $1600 
{*er annum. 



PRESIDENT JUDGES. 

The office of a president judge was not known in Peim-, 
«jlvania until after the formation of the constitution of 2d 

♦Connected with the commissioners we may here mention, thai 
they paid for wolves' beads, in the year 1749-60, tweiity six pounds 
and ten shillings, and in the year 1750-61, twenty-one pounds, of 
we may form an estimate from the reward as then granted by law 
for killing these animals, the heads of about thirty wolves must 
have been presented to the commissioners within one year after the 
i-rection of the county. The later minutes ot the commissioners* 
proceedings, speak of wolves' heads being presented to them for tha 
premium, and then being "bumt publicly before the court house 
idoor," for it had hc«D «uepcctetl that the same head bad drawn twe 
pr«iniiin«. 

L 



14^ aiSTORY OF YOliK C0T7KTT. 

September 1790. Before that time the courts were held by 
justices of the peace, none of whom were by profession 
lawyers. 

In pursuance of the direction of the new constitution, the 
legislature on the 1 Sth of April 1791, made the first division 
that was made, of the ctmmcnuealthinto districts or circuits. 
At that time the second circuit was made to ronsist of the 
counties of Chester, Lancaster, York, and Dauphin. After- 
wards on the 24lh of February 1806, the second district waa 
made to consist of the counties of Lancaster and York, and 
Dauphin, & on the 6th of February 1815 of Lancaster & York* 
The first f resident jr.dge of the second district, to which 
York county beIoi;gs, was the Hen. William Augustus Atlee, 
who, under the first constitution of the commmwealth, had 
been one of the judges of the Supreme court. The first 
Court held in Yoik by Judge Atlee waF en 25(h of October 
179 {. He continued as presiding judge until tlie time of 
his death, which Iiappentd on the 9Jh ofSfptember 4793, 
ift his seat near Wright's ferry en the Susquehanna. 

There was now a vacancy in the tffite cf president judge 
for nearly three months. In December 1793. the Hon. Joha 
Joseph Henry was appointed the successor of Mr. Atlee. 

Judge Henry, son of William Henry Esq., was horn alLan- 
caster, Pennsylvania, on the 4(h of November 1758. 

At tlie age of fourteen, John Joseph became an appren- 
tice to a gunsmith. At the age of 16 he joined the aimy. 
At the storming of Quebec he was taken prisoner, and after 
a long confinement was released. Keturning to Lancaster 
he was confined two years from an illness occasioned by his 
imprisonment. He was afterwards, for tour years, elerk in the 
office of John Hubley, prothonotary of Lancaster. He af- 
terwards studied law under SleplienChjimbers, was admitted 
to the bar in 1785, and was appointed Judge in 1793. He 
resigned Iiis commission as judge in January 1 8 11 . # 

Judge Henry on the 10th of December 1810, petitioned 
the legislature to grant him some compensation for his ser- 
vices and suflTerings during the revolutionary war. On the 
2d of April 1811, the legislature granted him the sum of 
1600 dollars, and on the S2d of the same month he died in 
his native town. 

The successor of Judge Henry, in the ofSce of president 
of the second judicial district, tvui the Hon. Walter Franks 



HISTORY OF YORE COUNTf. 1 ^'7 

t\n^ who was commissioned on the 18th of January ISlLj^nd 
who has continued unto thiatimeto preside over our courts^ 
with dignity, abihty and impartiahty. 

ASSOCIATE JUDGES» 

Upon th(5 organization of the courts under the con^titu- 
tsonof 1790, the first associate JukIsj^s were thg Honourable 
Henry vSchlegeK Samnel Edie, William S^ott, and Jacob 
Hudisell, the latter of whom was commissioned on the llth 
of August 1791. Jadg3sSJil^ge1,EJie and Scott who lived 
within the present limits of Adams county, were, after a divi- 
sion of the county in 1300, succeeded by John Stewart, who 
was commissioned on 30th of June, and Hugh Glasgow, 
"who was cotnmissioned on 1st of July. Judge Stewart be- 
Jng elected a member of Congress, the Hon. Jacob Ho?i' 
tetter was commissioned on tlie 28th of February 1801, to 
be an associate Judi^e. Judge Glasgow in his turn, was e- 
lected member of Congress and to succeed him the Hon. 
Oeorge Barnitz was commissioned on the 29th of March 
iSlS*! And lastly Judge Hosletter was elected member of 
Congress, and, on account of the vacancy occasioned by this, 
the Hon. John L. Hinkel was commissioned on the 10th of 
December, 1818. 

The Hon. Jacob Rudisell continued a judge until the time 
of his deatij. He died in Petersburg, Adams connty, in the 
house of Jacob VVinrode,on the 6lh of December 1800. 

The Hon. Hugh Glasgow died at his seat in Peachbottoni 
township, on the 31st of January, 1313, in the 49lh ye<kr of 
his age. 

The assoriate Judges at this time are the Hon. George 
Barnitz of York, and the Hon. John L. Hinkel, of the Bof» 
A3ugh of Hanover. 



148 HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY, 



CHAPTER XXI. 



DR, DADY. 

The following account of that noted imposter, Dr. Dad/, 
is taken nearly word for word from that written by the Hon. 
John Joseph Henry, and sent by him to Philidelphia with tiie 
convicted imposters. Judge Henry wrot^ the accoiiiit 
from notes taken at the trial. It follows, in most things, 
the order of the testimony as given in by the witnesses. 

Dr. Dady, who was a German by birth, came to this 
country with the Hessians during the American revolution. 
Possessing a fascinating eloquence in the German language, 
and being very fluent in the English, he was afterwards 
employed as a minister of the gospel by uninformed but 
bonest Germans. 

When the sacerdotal robe could no longer be subservient 
to his avaricious views, he laid it aside and assumed the 
character of a physician. As.^^uch he came to York county, 
and dwelt among the poor inhabitants of a mountainous 
part thereof, (now within the limits of Adams county,) 
where, in various artful ways, he preyed on the purses of 
the unwary. 

Of all the numerous impositions with which his namo is 
connected, and to which he lent his aid, we will mention but 
two. The scene of one of them is in what is now Ad- 
ams county, where he dwelt; and of the other in the 
'^barrens" of York county. 

The following is an account of the Adams county impo- 
sition: 

Rice Williams, or rather Rainsford Rogers, a New Eng- 
lander, and John Hall, a New Yorker, (buth of whom had 
been plundering the inhabitants of the southern states by 
their wiles,) came to the house of Clayton Chamberlain, a 
neighbor of Dady, in July 1797. 

On the following morning, Dady went to Ciiamberlain's, 
and had a private conversition with Williams and Hall be- 
fore breakfast. After Dady had left ihem, Williams ask- 



aiSTORY OF ^ORK COUNTY 14^ 

^ Chamberlain whether the place was not haunted. Being 
answered in the negative, he said that it was haunted — that 
he had been born with a veil over his face— could see spir- 
its, and had been conducted thither, sixty miles, by a spiriti 
Hall assented to the truth of this, in the evening of the 
same day, they had another interview with Dady. Williams 
then told Chamberlain, that if he would p(3rmit him to tarry 
over night, he would show him a spirit. This baina agreed 
to, they went into a field in the evening, and Williams 
drew a circle on the ground, around which he directed Hall 
and Chamberlain to walk in silence. A terrible screach 
was soon heard proceeding from a black ghost (!!!) in the 
woods, at a little distance from the parties, in a direction op- 
posite to the place where Williama stood. In a few minutes 
a ivJiite ghost appeared, which Williams addressed in a 
language which those who heard him could not under- 
stand — the ghost replied in the same language! After 
his ghostship had gone away, Williams said that the spirit 
knew of a treasure which it was permitted to discover to e- 
leven men — they must be honest, religio\iS and sensible, 
and neither horse-jockeys nor Irishmen. 

The intercourse between Williams and Dady now ceas- 
ed to be apparent; but it was continued in private. Cham- 
berlain, convinced of the existence of a ghost and a treas- 
ure, was easily induced to form a company, which was 
soon effected. 

Each candidate was initiated by the receipt of a small sealed 
paper, containing a little yellow sand, which was c:illed "the 
power." This "power" the candidate was to bury in the 
earth to the depth of one inch, for three days and three 
nights — performing several other absurd ceremoaies, too ob- 
scene to be described here. 

A circle, two inches in diameter was formed in the field, 
in the centre of which there was a hole six inches wide and 
as many deep. A captain, a lieutenant and three commit- 
tee men were elected. Hall had the honour of the cap- 
taincy. The exercise was to pace around the circle, &c. 
This, it was said, propitiated and strengthened the white 
ghost, who was opposed by aa unfriendly black ghost who 
rejoiced in the Appellation of Pompey, In the course of 
iheit nocturnal exercises they often saw the white ghost-— 

L2 



150 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

they saw Mr. Pomoey too, hut hg ap;)eare i tohive'^his bick 
Up," bellovved loudly, and threw stones at them. 

Oa the night of the ISih of August, 1797. Williams un- 
dertook to jret instructions from the white ghost. It was 
done in the following manner: Ho took '^ sheet of clean 
white paper, and folded it in the form of a letter, when each 
member hrealhed into it tliree times: this being repeated 
several times, and the paper laid over the hole in the centre 
of the circle, the iajtiiictions of the gliost were obtained. 
The following is a short extract from the epistle written by 
the ghost : 

''Go on, and dn right, and prosper, and the treasure shall 
be yours. I am permitted to write this in the same hand 

I wrote in the flesh for your direction — ^ Take 

care of your powers in the name and fear of God our protec- 
tor — if not, leave the work. There is a great treasure, 
4000 pounds a piece for you. Dont trust the black one. 
Obey orders. Break the enchantment, which you will not 
dountil you get an ounce of mineral dulcimer eliximer; some 
German doctors has it. it is near, and diai\ and scarce. 
Let the committee get it — but dont let the Doctor know 
what you are about — he is wicked." 

The above is but a small part of this precioua communica-. 
tion. In consequence of these ghostly directions, a young 
man named Abraham Kepliart waited, by order of the com- 
mittee, on Dr. Dady. The Dr. preserved his eliximer in a 
bottle sealed with a large red seal, and buried in a heap of 
bats, and deminded fifteen dollars for an ounce of it. 
Young Kephart could not afford to give so much, but gave 
him thirty six dollars and three bushels of oats for three 
ounces of it. Yost Liner, another of these wise committee 
men, gave the Doctor 121 dollars for eleven ounces of the 
stuff. 

The company was soon increased to 39 persons, many of 
vrhom were wealthy. Among those who were most misera- 
bly duped may be mentioned Clayton Chamberlain, Yost Li- 
ner, Thomas Bigham, William Bigham, Samuel Togert, Joba 
M'Kinney, James Agnew the elder, James M'Cleary, Rob. 
Thompson, David Kissinger, George Sheckley, Peter Wike- 
art, and John Philips. All these and many other men were, 
jn the words of the indictment, "cheated and defrauded by 
lueana of certain false tokens aad pr&teaces, to wit., b/ 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 151 

means of pretended spirits, certaia circles, certain brawn 
powder, and certain compositions called mineral dulcimer 
elixer, and Deterick's mineral elixer." 

But tha wiles of these imposters were soon exerted in o- 
ther parts. The following is an account of their proceed- 
ings in and about Shrewsbury township in this county. 
Williams intiniited that he had received a call from a ghost 
resident in those pans, at the distance of forty miles from 
Dady's. Jacob Wister, one of the conspirators, was the agent 
of Williims on this occasion. He instituted a company of 
twenty one persons, all of whom were, of course, most igno- 
rant people. The same and even more absurd ceremonies 
were performed by these people, and the communications of 
the ghost were obtained in a still more ridiculous manner 
than before. The communications mentioned Dr. Dady as 
the person from whom they should obtain the dulcimer elix- 
er, as likewise a kind of sand which the ghost called tho 
"Asiatic sand,'' and which was necessary in order to give 
efficacy to the ''powers." Ulrich NeafF, a committee man 
of this company, paid to Dr. Dady ninety dollars for seven 
and a halfouncesof theelixer. The elixer vvas put into vials, 
and each person who had one of them, held it in his hand and 
shook it as he pranced round the circle; on certain occasions 
he annointed his head with it, and afterwards, by order of 
the spirit, the vial was buried in the ground. 

Paul Baliter, another of the committee men, took with 
him to Dr. Dady's, a hundred dollars to purchose ^'Asiatic 
sand," at three dollars per ounce. Dady being absent, 
Williams procured from the Doctor's sliop as much sand as 
the money would purchase. In this instance, Williams 
cheated the Doctor, for he kept the spoil to lAraself, and 
thence arose an overthrow of the good fraternity. 

Each of them now set up for himself. Williams procur- 
ed directions from his ghost, that each of the companies 
should despatch a committee man to Lmcasterto buy "Dede- 
rick's mineral elixer" of a physician in thai place. In the 
mean time Williams and his wife went to Lancaster, where 
they prepared the elixer, which was nothing but a composi-. 
tion of copperas and cayenne pepper. Mrs. Williams, as 
the wife of John Huber, a German doctor, went to Dr. Rose^ 
with a letter dated *'13 miles from New-Castle, Delaware,'^ 
which directed him how to sell the article, &,c. The enor- 



152 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

mity of the price aroused the suspicion of Dr. Rose. In a 
few days the delegates from the committee arrived, and 
purchased elixer to the amount of $740.33^. When the la- 
dy came for the money, she was arrested, and the secret 
became known. Her hnsband, Wilhams, ascaped. 

The Lancaster expedition having led to a discovery of 
the tricks of the impostors, a few days after the disclosures 
made by Mrs. Williams, an indictment was presented m the 
criminal court of York county, against Dr. John Dady, 
Rice Williams, Jesse Miller, Jacob Wister, the elder, and 
Jacob Wister, the younger, for a con.^piracy to cheat and 
defraud. The trial took place in June following, and result- 
ed in the c<mviciion of Wister, tlie elder, and of Dr. Dady 
— the former of whom was fined ten dollars and imprisoned 
one month in the county jail, the latter fined ninety dollars, 
and sentenced to two years confinement in the penitentiary 
at Philadelphia. 

Dady had just been convicted of participating in the con- 
spiracy in Shrewsbury, when he and Hall were found guilty 
of a like crime in Adams county — whereupon Hull was 
fined one hundred dollars and sent to the penitentiary foi- 
two years, and Dady was fined one hundred and sixty dol- 
lars, and sentenced to undergo an additional servitude of 
two years in the penitentiary, to commence ia June, 1800, 
when his first term would expire. 

Tims ended the history of a man in this county, who cer- 
tainly was not devoid of talent, who possessed a most win- 
ning address, and was a thorough master in quick and cor- 
irect discernment of character. He reigned, for a season, 
with undisputed sway, in what was then the western part of 
York county. His cunning, for a long time, lulled suspi- 
cion to sleep. The history of his exorcisms should teach 
the credulous that the ghosts which appear now-a-days are 
as material as our own flesh. 



BtlSTOStT OF Y6RK COrNTY. 



I5$ 



CHAPTER XXfl. 



POST OFFICES IX YORK COUNTY. 

Believing that a list of the post offices in York coun- 
ty, with the names of the respective postmasters, would 
not be entirely without interest and utility, we have pre- 
pared the following: 

Post Masters. 
Gideon Griest 
Andrew Clarkson 
Martin Shearer 
Alexander Gordon 
Edward Markland 
Peter Dessenberg 
G. L. Shearer. 



Post Offices. 
Bermudian, 
Clianceford, 
Codorus, 
Cross Roads, 
Castle Fin, 
Day's Landing, 
Dillsburg, 
Dover, 
Fawn Grovoj 
Franklintown, 
Farmer's, 
Guilford, 
Hanover, 
Hetricks, 
Lewisberry, 
Loganville, 
Lower Chanceford, 
Manchester, 
Margaretta Furnace, 
Newberrjtown, 
Peach Bottom, 
Pigeon HilU 
Rossville, 
Shrewsbury, 
Siddonsburg, 
Windsor, 
Wrightsville, 
Wolfram's^ 
York Haven, 
York, 



E. Melchinger 
1 horn as Barton 
Martin Carl 
William Snodgrasa 
Anthony Stewart 
Peter Mueller 
John Hershner 
Samuel Crull 
Samuel Keyser 
William Cowen 
J. T. Ubil 
S. C. Slaymaker 
Tho3. Wickershum 
James McConkey 
Abraham Bletcher 
Michael WoJlet 
Philip Folkemmer 
James G. Fraser 
Wm. C. Cornwell 
James Kerr 
Gustavus Wolfram 
D. Winchester, Jan 
Daniel Small 



ibi BISTORT OF YORK CiWlfTT. 



MARKETS. 



^ 



No rognlnr mirkets were held in York till some years af- 
ter it had been laid out, and, in pirt, settled. John and Ri- 
-chard Penn, by their lieuten mt governor, R-ibcrt Hunter 
Morris, granted the first privilege of holding markets here. 
The date of their chnrter for this purpose is recorded as the 
♦^'eighteenth djy of October, in the year of our Lord one 
thousand seven hundred and fifty five, the twenty ninth 
year of the reign of King George the second over Great Bri- 
tain &c,, and in the thirty eighth year of our government.'^ 
I'his grant of privilege states th^t "the inhabitants of the 
iown of York, in the new county of York, are become so 
numerous that tliey find it necessary to have a public mar- 
ket established within the said town of York, for the bet- 
ter supplyiiig and accommodating them with good andi 
wholesome provisions, and other necessaries, under prope^ 
regulations." It then, ^'upon the htimble request of the in- 
habitants of York, grants and ordains that they and thei< 
successors shall and may forever thereafter hold inid keej 
within the town, in every week of the year, two mark( 
days, the one on Wednesday and the other on Siturday, in- 
such commodious place or places, as is, shall, or may be, 
appointed for that purpose." Another clause of the charter 
reads thus: '^Aud we do hereby appoint John Meem,ofihe 
town of York, to be the fir^t clerk of the mirket, who, and 
all succeeding clerks, shall have as3ize of bread, wine, beer, 
and other things, with all the powers, privileges, and im- 
munities, by law belonging to such office.'" 

This grateful privilege of holding markets on Wednes- 
days and Siturdays, has been continued down to our times. 
When the legislature on the 24th of September, 17S7, made 
York a borough, they specially and particularly granted a 
continuance of this ancient blessing, originally conferred 
on us by the Penns. The first clerk of the market in the 
horous:h of York, i. e. under its incorpora.ion, was Frede- 
ifick Youse. 

The present Master of the Market is Htnry Stroman, 



HI STORK Off YORK C(U»tTc 155 



CHAPTER XXIIL 



MILITIA. 

Twe more early laws of Pennsylvania were straitgers tP 
any thing like arms. It was not until the year 1755, that 
the legislature turned their attention to this subject, when 
they made a law **ordeiing and regulating such as were 
willing, and desirous of being united for military purpos- 
es." Shortly afterwards a few "associated companies of 
militia," were formed in York county. One was form- 
in Siirewsbury township, whereof Andrew Findlay was 
captain; \ViliianL G.£JT.imill, lieutenant ; and MoseJ?Lawson, 
ensign | and these received their commissions on 24th A- 
pril 1759. Another was formed in IVIountjoy townships 
whereof William Gibson was captain; William Thompson^ 
lieutenant; and Caspar Little, ensign ; and these received 
their commissions on the 1st of May i756. Athiid com- 
pany was formed in York township, whereof David Hunter 
was captain ; John Corrie, lieutenant ; and John Barnes, 
ensign ; and they received their commissions on the 26th of 
May 1756. Besides these, Hugh Don woody is mentioned 
as having been commissioned captain on the 19th ofAprU 
1756, but in what township his company was, or who were 
the other officers, does not appear. Most probably the a^- 
tociatioriy which was entirely volunlary, was relinquished 
very soon after he had received his commission. The a- 
bove mentioned persons were the first that ever bore mili- 
tary honours in York ct)unty. 

The general assembly made a number oflaws on milita- 
ry subjects, in the years 1757 ami 1758. The latter of 
those years, was distinguished by the expedition against 
FortDu Quesne, which was committed to general Forbes at 
the head of 8000 men. Towards that exj^edition, York 
county furnished four companies of foot- soldiers. 

'^The Captains were 
Robert M'Pherson, Mho took the loecessary oaths 

of office on May iO, 1758 

Thomas Hamilton, Maj 15, 179% 



156 DISTORT OP YORK C0UNT7. 

David Hunter* May 25, 1758 

The lieutenants were 
Andrew Findlay^ who took the necessary oaths 

of office on April 26, 1758 

James Ewing,t May 10, 1758 

Alexander M'Kean, May 15, 1758 

Victor King, May 16, 1758 

The ensigns were 
William Haddin, who took the necessary oaths 

of office on April 25, 1759 

Peter Mim, iMay 10, 1758 

James Armstrong, May 15, 1753 

William M'Dowell, May 16, 1758 

From the period of the expedition against Fort Du Quesne 
to the commencement of th.e revolution, the services of the 
nnilitia of York county weie not required on any occasion. 
For an account of ihe militia from this county who were 
engaged in the war of indeper.dence, the reader is referred 
to the chapter under the head of "Revolution." 

On the 7th of August ]7r4, Pres-idcnt Washington issu- 
ed a proclamation,sfcitirg forth tl;at illegal combinations ex- 
isted in the western part of Pennsylvania to "defeat the ex- 
ecution of the laws layirg duties upon stills, and upon spir^ 
its distilled in the United States" ' — and that the conspirators 
had attacked the house of John Neville, one of the inspec-^ 
tors of the revenue for the state of Pennsylvania, and had 
seized and maltreated Pfivid Lennox, marshal! of the Dis- 
trict of Pennsylvania. The proclamation concluded with a 
call upon all good citizens to aid the government in '*sup- 
pressing and preventing such dangerous proceedings." -. 
Immediately upon the appearance of the President's pro- 
clamation. Gov. Mifflin, cf Pennsylvania, issued a proclama- 
tion, requiring the General Assembly of the commonwealthl 
to meet forthwith at the statehouse in Philadelphia, for thej 
purpo€e oS devising the necessary means to maintain the 

*Thc same man who laid out Hunter*s town now in Adams 
(bounty. 

tAtterward* Brigadier General in the revolutionary war, ai;d 
▼ice -president of th« Covncil under the first constitution of PeDa« 
^jrWaBta 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 157 

peace & dignity of the commonwealth. TheLrgislalurcaccor- 
dingly convened in Pliiladelphia on the Qdol Sef.t. 1794, and 
one of their earliest acts v as to provide for engaging the ser- 
vices of the militia of the commonwealth, in defence of the 
laws. 

York connty, ever ready to act when the public interest 
honor or safety requires an appeal to arms, furnished, on 
this occasion, a regiment of well a[ pointed militia, and 
two companies of volunteers. The trgimcnt was comman- 
ded by Col. Daniel May. One company of vohinteers was 
commanded by Captain Andrew JoiiiKsion. Of this compa- 
ny Charles Barnitz was firs-t lieutenant, and John Greer en- 
sign. Of the other, (which was a rifle company,) James 
Cross was captain.^ 



THE L.ATE 1\^AR. 

In 1814, when the city of Baltimore was endangered by 
the approach of the British, york conntj was {)rompt in co^ 
ming forward ip the aid of tiie Baltiujoreans. A number 
of companies in various parts of the county were immedi-? 
ately ready to march to t!ie city, prepared to confront the 
proud invader, and, if necessary, to lay down their lives iu 
the effort to check his progress. 

Although, of the companies raised here for the purpose 
of defending Baltimore, but one reached that city in time 
to share the danger and glory of an actual engagement with 
the enemy — yet, the fact that they marched to the point of 
invasion as early as circumstancs permitted, will shield all 
of them who did not arrive in time, from any imputation of 
indifference to the fate of Baltimore. When they did leave 
their homes, they left them in the full expectation that they 
were to meet an enemy flushed and insolent with success, 
and surpassing them in military discipline. It was no fault 
of theirs, that, when they arrived at Baltimore, an attack 
had already been made — it was no fault of theirs that they 
had not assisted in the gallant defence of the city and the 
repulse of the invader. 

The "YORK VOLUNTEERS," who did arrive in time, 
were nearly one hundred strong, were composed principally 
of youDg men, *'the flower of the county," and were coi©- 

M 



158 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

inanded by Captain (afterwards Colonel) Michael H. Spang-* 
ler, of the borough of York. 

This gallant company marched from York on the 29th of 
August, 1814, without any provision other than that con- 
tributed by the citizens of the borough. Immediately 
upon their arrival at the city, they tendered their services 
to the general in command, and in consequence of their re- 
spectable appearance and discipline, were solicited to attach 
themselves to the fifth regiment, a fine body of Baltimore 
troops, under the command of Col. Slerett. They were 
marched with their regiment to oppose the enemy at North, ., 
Point, and until overpowered by numbers, fought with the|| 
bravery of veterans. Notwithstanding the formidable host *" 
opposed to them, they resolutely maintained their ground, 
until a retreat, thrice ordered, became absolutely necessary 
to prevent their being surrounded and cut off. Two of 
their number were taken prisoners and several wounded — 
one very severely. After the battle, and until the enemy 
retired, their duty was of the most severe and arduous kind, 
and they acquitted themselves in a manner fully satisfacto- 
ry to their commanders and highly honorable to them- 
selves. 

In testimony of t/ie gallant bearing of the "Volunteers** 
at Baltimore, we subjoin the discharge of Gen. Smith, a pri- 
vate letter of Maj. Heath, and an extract from the regimen- 
tal orders of the brave Col. Sterett, of September 20, 1814: 
{ HEAD QUARTERS, Baltimore, 
I September 20, 1814. 

"Captain Spangler and his company of volunteers from 
York, Pa., having honorably performed the tour of duty for 
which they ha<l offered their services, are hereby permitted 
to return to their homes, in taking leave of this gallant 
corps, the major general commanding has great pleasure in 
bearing testin)ony to the undaunted courage they displayed | 
in the affair of the Pith inst., and in tendering them hisi| 
thanks for tlie essential aid they contributed towards the 
defence of the city. 

S. SMITH, Maj. Gen. Commanding." 

^'BALTIMORE, September 20, 1814. 
To Captain Spangler, 
Dear Sir — Hearing that you arc about to depart froR^ 1 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 159 

bur city with your brave corps, 1 cannot do justice to my 
own feelings without expressing the obligations I am under 
to you and them for the promptness with which you uni- 
formly executed my orders, your readiness at ail times to 
perform your duty and the cool and manly conduct mani- 
fested by the officers and men under your command during 
the action with the enemy on the 12th inst. May you all 
return in health to the bosoms of your families, and long 
enjoy happiness uninterrupted. 

I am, sir. with sentiments of sincere i*espect, your friend 
and humble servant, 

R. K. HEATH, 1st major, 5th regH." 

Regimental orders— fifth regiment. 

'^Baltimore, Sept. 20, 1814. 
Captain Spangler's company of York V^olunteers having 
permission to return to their respective homes, the lieute- 
nant colonel cannot permit them to depart without thanking 
them for their soldier-like and orderly conduct. The few 
days they were attached to the 5th regiment, was a mo- 
mentous period of trial — they not only had to face the dan- 
gers of battle, but to bear the inclemencies of weather and 
suffer all the inconveniencies of fatigue, watching and hun- 
ger to which the soldier is liable in the hour of alarm — 
these were met and borne by them with a manly fortitude, 
which does them honor and entitles them to the gratitude 
of Baltimore, and particularly to the friendship and esteem 
of the officers and men of the 5th regiment, which are thus 
publicly and cheerfully accorded to them." 

The following is a list of the officers and men compos- 
ing the company of '"York Volunt.eers," when that compa- 
ny marched from York on the invasion of Baltimore — Au' 
gust 29, 1814 : 

MICHAEL H. SPANGLER, Captain. 

JACOB BARNITZ, First Lieutenant. 

JOHN M'CURDY, Second Lieutenant. 

GEORGE F. DOLL, Ensign. 
musicia:n's. 
loha A. Leitner, Daniel Small, G. P. Kurtz. 

JSrOJM- COMMISSIOJSTED OFFICERS. 

John Hay, Adam King, Joseph Schall; Da- 



160 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTT. 



vid Wilson, Charles Kurtz, Michael Ilabn, 
John Kuntz^ Daniel Updegraff. 

PRIVATES. 



Peter Lanius, 
Henry Sleeger, 
James Gibson, 
G. W. Spangler, 
Hugh Ingram, 
John BrJckel, 
Thomas Miller, 
Jacob Lehman, 
Jacob Wieseiithal, 
Jacob Frey, 
George Dunn, 
John M'Clean, 
George Holier, 
George Reisinger, 
MichaelMiller, 
Jolin Devine, 
John M'Anulty, 
Jolin Sinn, 
Anthony T. Burns, 
Jacob Gartner, 
Peter O'Conner, 
Charles Slroman, 
Enoch Thompson, 
Henry Wolf, 
David Hoftart, ^ 
Richard Goody, 
James Dngan, 
Andrew Kauffman, 



Charles Stuck, 
Hegh Stewart, 
Jacob Lotttnan, 
Jacob Shefler, 
Peter Surs, 
Jacob Reisinger, 
AVillian) Burns, 
Jacob G'essner, 
Etnanuel Raab, 
Jacob Riipp, 
Grafton Duvall, 
Samuel Hays, 
George Beard, 
George Brickel, 
Christian Eshbach, 
Joseph Kerr, 
Jolin Tiivlor, 
John Byron, 
Daniel Coyle, 
Jacob Herbst, 
Peter Grimes, 
Hiigh M'Cosker, 
Abraham Keller, 
Henry I\lundt)rff, 
G. M. Leitner, 
Walter Bull. 
William Nes, 



Daniel Heckert, 
James S.ConneUee, 
David Trimble, 
J. W. Altemus, 
T'homas Thompson, 
Chester Smith, 
E. W. iMurphy, 
Robert Pierson, 
Dan'l Baumgardner, 
Frederick Witz, 
Frederick Kercher, 
Jacob Noell, 
George Ilgenfritz, 
George Laub, 
Joseph Woodyear, 
Joseph M'Cunniken 
John Fisher^ "• 
John Giesy, 
Jacob Levan, 
Jacob Sicehr, 
Peter Cooker, 
Hugh M'Alear, Sen. 
Hugh M'Alear, Jun. 
David Kauflfman, 
William Warson, 
Dennis Kearney 
Aaron Holt, 



Of the members of the above company, only about twen- 
ty five are now living. The arduous duty performed at 
Baltimore, and the exposure to the inclemency of a num- 
ber of damp and cold nights in September, to which many 
of them were unaccustomed, we have no dojbt implanted 
in their systems the germs of diseises, by which they were 
afterwards hurried to their graves. Their gallant captiiii 
died on Sunday the 7ih of September, 183 4, and was at- 
tended to his grave on the following Tuesday by a vast con- 



HISTORY OF YORK COUXTY. 161 

course of mourning relatives and friends, by the officers 
of the 94th regiment, P. M., by the survivors of tlie ''York 
Volunteers," and by the following volunteer companies of 
the borough: 

The ^^Wasliingtori Artillerists/'' 

Commanded by Capt. Jacob Upp, jun. 
The ^'Pennsylvania Volunteers," 

Commanded by Capt. John Evans. 

The '^Citizen Guards, '^ 

Con^manded by Capt. Samuel Hay. 

The ^-National Greys,'' 

Commanded by Caot. Alexander H. Barnitz. 

The ^^ York Rangers/' 
Commanded by Capt. Samuel E. Clement. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

CONSPIRACY OF THE NEGROES IX 
YORK IN 1803. 

On the 23d of February, 1803, a negro M'oman, named 
Margaret Bradley, was convicted for a misdemeanor in at- 
attenipting to poison Sophia Bentz, and Matilda Bentz, both 
of York; and in consequence thereof was sentenced to un- 
dergo an iiuprisonment of four years in the Penitentiary at 
Philadelphia. The negroes of the place, being dissatisfied 
with the above conviction and sentence, determined to hav« 
revenge on the whites, and sought it in the destruc- 
tion of their property. They conspired together to burn 
the town of York, and almost succeeded in their nefarious 
purpose. So secret and artful was the conspiracy, that 
though the fires were known to be the work of incendia- 
ries, yet no suspicion was for a long time attached to th« 
blacks of the place. On nearly every successive day, or 
night, for about three weeks, they set fire to some part of 
the town; but through the incessant vigilance and unwe*- 

M2 



162 HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 

ried exertions of the citizens, their dark designs were frus- 
trated. Nunieroiis patrols were tstablishtd ; strong guards 
were kept on foot by the citizens; and the governor order- 
ed out a detachment of the militia, whicli was constantly 
on duty. Indeed so great was the danger, and so high 
had the pubhc fear arisen, that the governor of the state,^ 
Thomas McKean, offered by proclamation on the 17th of 
March, the sum of three hundred dollars to any person 
who should discover those who were engaged in the con- 
spiracy for burning the borough. But happily for the town, 
suspicion had already been attached, and arrest made, which 
were followed by confessions. A nejiro girl, who had re- 
ceived instructions to set fire to Mr. Zinn's barn at twelve 
o^clock^ mistaking midday for midnight, perpetrated the 
deed at nooir, in consequence of the concealed crime (for 
she openly carried a pan of coals into the barn and scatter- 
ed them on the hay,) she was arrested and confessed her- 
self guilty; thereby b nding a key to the conspiracy. — Sev- 
eral other nPLMoes were immediately arrested on suspicion; 
and during the following week a number more were cast 
into prison, some of whom confessed. Fires now ceased 
to be kindled, and peace and safety was again restored to 
the town. — The persons apprehended lay in jail until May, 
when their trial came on in the court of oyer and terminer. 
One indictment was presented against twenty one ne- 
groes and mulattoes for the crime of a rso?i, that is house 
burning; a part of whom were convicted and sent to the 
Penetentiary for a goodly length of years. Thus ended 
this dark conspiracy, which for a longtime baffled discov- 
ery. 

Among tlie principal fires in York (for they burnt some 
buildings out of the borough) may be mentioned the fol- 
lowing: 

On the night of Sunday the 20th of February, the stable 
of Richard Koch was set on fire and burnt to the ground. 
This building was well selected, for it was joined to the 
kitchen by one and the same roof, and stood within a few 
feet of a stable on an adjoining lot in which there was a 
quantity of hay. The roof of the kitchen being torn down, 
the fire was, by means of the engines, confined to the slable: 
but had it not been discovered until a little later, it would 
have destroyed all the neighboring buildings. 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 165 

On the night of Monday the 7th of March they set five 
the stable of Mr. Edie, then in the tenure of Dr. Spangler. 
Thetlames were communicated with uncontrolable rapidi- 
ty to the stable of Dr. Jameson on the west, and to that of 
the widow UpdegrafF oa the east. Those three build- 
ings were all on fire at the same time, and sunk down in 
one common ruin : by uniting their flames, they formed a 
tremendous fire which seemed to threaten the destruction of 
a great part of the town. 

On the 8th of March the Academy* was on fire^ but the 
tlames were quickly and fortunately extinguished. This 
was the fifth fire in the town within the period of nine 
days. 

On the Uth of March, they set fire to the barn of Mr. 
Zinn, whence the flames were communicated to the barn of 
Rudolph Spangler, Jacob Spangler, G. L. Loeffler and Philip 
Gossler. These five barns, built of wood, filled with hay 
and straw, and standing near one another, formed but one 
fire. Through great exertions and a fortunate change of 
the wind, the houses and other buildings in the neighbor- 
hood were saved. This was the fire which led to the imme- 
diate discovery of the conspiracy. 

After the fires had ceased, and most of those who had 
been engaged in the conspiracy were confined in prison, the 
lustices of the peace and burgesses of the borough published 
a notice (on the 21st of March) *'to the inhabitants of York 
and its vicinity to the distance of ten miles,-' requiring 
such as had negroes '-to keep them at home under strict dis- 
cipline and watch, and not to let them come to town on any 
pretence whatsoever without a written pass:'' and when 
they came they were to leave town one hour at least before 
sundown "on pain of being imprisoned or at the risk of their 
lives." Free negroes were "to get a pass from a justice of 
the peace, in order that they might not be restrained from 
their daily labor." 

*This fire is believed not to have been earned by the blacks, but 
is supposed to have originated in the carelessness of one of the 
teachers, who either directed or permitted hot ashes to be poured 
oa the floor of an unoccupied room, containing some dry wood and 
chips which were in consequence ignited, and communicated the 
fir« t« the floor and woodwork of the room. 



64 HISTORY OF YORK COUN'TY. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

FLOODS OF THE CODORUS. 

The CoJorus originates pirlly in Maryland and partly in 
York county, and flowing in a northern direction, passes 
directly llirough the borong'i of York, about te;i miles a- 
bove its month. It is ordinarily a phcid stream — butsome- 
times, foigetting its bounds, it makes an awful display of 
its terrible destructive power. 

One of the first fl)ods of the Codorus, was in March, 
1784, the date of w hit is usually called the ''ice flood." 
Though the water and ice rose to an extraordinary height 
on this occasion, no buildings were destroyed — the flood 
did not pass off however wiUiout doing considerable dam- 
fige. 

There was another flood in 1736. On Tuesday, the Sd 
of October, it begin to raiu, there being at tne s;irne time a 
high South Etst wind. Thv:; rain continued until Thursday 
night, at which time the Codorus was three feet and ten in- 
ches and a half higher thin it was in 1784. This fliod, 
like its predecessor, destroyed every bridge on the Codo- 
rus. 

But the greatest flood was thit of 1817, when the water 
rose five feet higher than it did in 1786. On Friday, the 
8th of Angus', 1817, at about ten oVIock in the evening, 
the air was uncommonly heavy — an unusual darkness soon 
followed, and then a moderate rain. At about 12 o'clock 
the rain increased considerably, and at about one, it be- 
came violent. The storm continued till nearly one oxlock 
on Saturday afternoon, when the sky suddenly became 
clear, and the sun shone brightly. The gloom of feeling 
caused by the unusual and incessant storm iiad indeed oc- 
casioned some melancholy forebodings; but al; heaviness of 
soul was now dissipated by the view of a sky again clear 
and serene. Every where there was cheerfulness, without 
a dream of the approach of danger^ 

By the rain the Codorus had swollen beyond its banks. 
In the strength of its course, it swept away the large wood- 
en bridge which connected George street with the York 
Haven turnpike road. The destruction of the bridge, how- 



HISTORY OF YORK COUXTV. 165 

ever, did not excite the fears of the inhabitants. Many of 
them were amused at the novel sight of a bridge moving 
off with the current. 

The water, in the mean time; was rising rapidly — it soon 
covered Main street from above Water street on the eas- 
tern to Newberry street on the western side of the creek. 
The people now removed from the lower stories of their 
houses; but no one foreboded the approach of disaster. 

At length news arrived that the large dam at Spring 
Forge, on the Codorus, some miles above York, had yield- 
ed to the fury of the waters. This intelligence was com- 
municated to the people who lived west of the creek, and 
immediately beyond the stone bridge in Main street. They 
were advised to save themselves by going to some place of 
security, while the water might yet be waded. They ap- 
prehended however, no danger, sjpposing thit their houses 
would save them— and, consequently, they did not re- 
move. 

The waters of the Spring Forge dam, and of the other 
dams above York, broken by the discharged fury of the 
first, came now foaming, rolling, roaring on, acquiring new 
strength as they progressed, and sweeping down every thing 
in their course, until finally lost in the Susquehanna. Be- 
fore the creek, however, had arisen to the full less oi its 
fearful height, Col. Michael H. Spangler, first with a horse, 
and afterwards with a boat, removed many people from their 
houses, thereby saving them, most probably, from a death 
amid the waters. At one time there were eight persons at- 
tached to the boat, so that it was almost impossible to make 
it move over the waves. A few minutes more, and it would 
have been too late to have saved these beings from 
ihe fury of a merciless element. 

The water had now risen so high that communication be- 
tween the peo[)le in their houses and those on the shores 
became impossible. As the danger of removing was greater 
than that of remaining, those who wore exposed were obli- 
ged to continue where they were, each seeming affixed to 
the spot, fearing, each moment, that in t';ie next, they should 
l>e precipitated into the flood. 

The torrent now rolled through the streets of York, as 
thouo;h the fountains of the great deep had been broken up. 
The Codorus had swollen into a mighty river — it was froia 



166 ■ HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 

^ quarter lo a half mile wide, and deep enough to float thd 
proudest war-ship that rides the ocean. On came the tor- 
rent, bearing on its broad bosom trophies of the ruin and de- 
struction it had already spread throughout the region of its 
inarch. Bridges, the wood-work of dams, mills, liouses, 
barns, stables, &c., from the country above, all, in rapid suc- 
cession, came floating through the town. 

House after house either rose on the water and was borne 
off" or was undermined and sunk beneath the waves. As 
the small and less strong houses were most exposed to dan- 
ger, their inhabitants betook themselves to those which were 
more fortified against the element. Many beat holes from 
room to room, thereby asrendiui; to the tops of their dwel- 
lings •, arid then, by jurriping from roof to roof, they escaped. 
in some instances, the houses deserted were swept away in 
less than a minute from the time they were left. 

The houses in which the people mostly collected for 
safety, were Mrs. Vlargaret Doudle's, Jesse Spangler's and 
Jesse Love's. There were eight persons saved in .VI rs. Dou- 
dle's house-, six in Mr. Spangier's; and between twenty- 
five and thirty in Mr. Love's. The people in these houses 
remained for nearly four hours in continued expectation 
of instant death ; for the houses stood in the midst of a 
current which was on all sides overthrOwitlg buildings ap- 
parently as firm as they. These houses, with several oth- 
*3rs, were watched from the shore with a breathless anxiety ; 
hut though one corner after another had given, or was giv- 
ing way, yet enough remained to secure the lives of those 
who were in them and upon them. 

Helpless relatives and friends were seen extending their 
arms from roofs and windows for assistance, expecting that 
♦ he house which sustained them, would instantly yield be- 
neath them, or float down the torrent. The cries of the 
Jiving and the dying were heard on all sides; and every one 
tvas taking, in breathless agony, a last look at some dear 
object of affection. 

It would be a labor almost endless to recount all the 
hair-breadth escapes, and to detail every deed of individual 
prowess, for which this day will long be mentioned with a 
melancholy and a tearful recollection. Every thing which 
human power could etfect, was done to aid and to save 
There were a few men whose exertions on this occasion en- 



HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 167 

titles them to honorable notice. Messrs. Penrose Robinson 
and John Wolf secured two coloured people who were 
floating down the torrent on the roof of a house, at the risk 
oftheirown lives. Messsrs Seacrist, Eichelberger, Leitner, 
Cookes, Hart, Doughen, Delterman, and John Miller 
exerted themselves in boats, like heroes, fearless of the 
waves, and despising danger. 

There were ten peisons who lost their lives by this flood; 
they were Mr. Hugh Cunningham and lady, Mr. Daniel Up- 
degraff (formerly editor of a paper entitled ''The Expositor") 
Master Samuel Eichelberger (son of Maitin Eichelberger,) 
aged about 15 years, a Miss Colvin of York county, a child 
of Mr. John F. Williams, aged about two years j and four 
persons of colour. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham, and Samuel Eichelberger were 
found in one and the same room, lying dead side by side. 
They were in part of Mrs. xMcClellan's house, which was lodg- 
ed a few perches from the channel against a tree. Out of 
this hou.se, Mrs. McClellan had been taken but a few min- 
utes before it was carried away. Mr. Joseph Wren, a sol- 
dier of the revtdution, was found alive in the garret of the 
same house.* Mrs.Williams' child was thrown from its cradle 
in sight of its mother, who was herself saved with difficulty. 

The following is a list of most of the buildings that were 
ruined or carried off*ijy the flood, between Water and New- 
berry streets. 

Michael Doudel's large currying shoj), tan-house &c. an<^ 
his stock of hides and leather, all swept away, 

Jacob Barnitz's stone brewery, destroyed. 

Samuel Welsh's brick brewery (with all its contents) 
nail-factory, and out-houses,* carried off"; and the brick 
dwelling house much injured. 

Jesse Spangler's hatter shop, stable, and out houses de- 
stroyed; and his dwelling house (occupied by him as a taT- 
ern) ruined. 

Mr. Schlosser's brick dwelling-house, stable, and oul 
house destroyed. 

Josph Morris' kitchen, stable, and out-houses destroyed: 
his dwelling house greatly injured. 

Mrs. Morris' stable and out-houses destroyed; dwellings 
house injured. 

*)ise chapter wnder headof "Pensioners.** 



168 HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 

Mr. HaLtz's tavern, (orcnpied by Thomas Smith) stablcy 
^lieds, and out-houses carried off: the tavern and back- 
buildings, all of brick, nearly ruined. 

Peter RuhPs dwelling-house, kitchen, and stable cairi- 
ed off. 

John F. Williams' brick grocery store, brick kitchen, sta- 
ble, and out-houses destrc>y< d : dwellin|:-h(iuse ruined. 

Alexander Underwood's kitchen, stable, and out-houses 
destroyed*, dwelling-liouse very much injured. 

Messrs. Jef^sop's and Davis's jeweller's shop carried 
off. 

Jonathan Jessop's cotton wnre-honse, with a large quan- 
tity of cotton •, his stables, and out-houses, all carried off. 

John Elgar's nail-factory, stable, and out houses destroy- 
ed : dwelling-house greatly injured. 

George R(;throck"'s staljles and out houses destroyed. 

Mr. Lanius' stables and out-houses dcWroyed. 

Martin Spangler's tan-ho»ise, two other houses, and stable 
destroyed: dvvelling-houpe injured. 

Jacob Smyser's tan -house iic. destroyed. 

Blr. llgenfritz's stable carried off. 

Jacob Gardner's tan-house, baik-house, barn &.c. carried 
off: dwelling-house injured. 

Israel Gardner's new two story brick house (occupied by 
George Lauman) with all its contents cariied off: back 
baildings injured. 

Thomas Owing's back-building and stable carried off: 
dwelling-house ruined. 

John Love's tan-house, hark -house, stable &c. carri- 
ed off. 

The Rev. Michael Dunn's* stable and out-houses carried 
©ff: dwelling-house injured. 

Weirich Bentz's two dwelling houses, stables, and out 
bouses carried off. 

Mrs. Margaret Doudel's tan-house and out-houses carri- 
ed off: her large and strong two story brick dwelling-house 
very much injured by the falling in of the whole west ga- 
Ue end. 

Mrs. Rummel's stable, and Mr. Carnan's stable carried 
off. 

Mr. Behler'a log-house and still-house in Water street 
carried off. 



HISTORY OF \ORK COUNTY. 160 

Mr. Sie( hrist's shed full of bricks, carried off. 

The whole of tlie cmtiiii and wing walls of the stone 
bridge in High street brckon down. 

Jn mcA of these cases the buildings and improvements 
were either entirely carried uff, or were so much injured 
Es to be incapable of repir. 

The tenants who sufH red :ind who mostly loFt their all, 
were Martin Eicbelbergc r, Mrs. !\I(Ctelb;n, G. K. Kane, 
Samuel Hartman, George LaLman, Abncr ^rhimas, and sev- 
eral others. 

One account of the flood* says that "seven tan yards, two 
taverns, three stores, two hrew( ri» s, one candle and soap 
factory, one whip factory, two nail factories, one jeweller's 
shop, one cop{ eismith's phop v.nd ^exirA (tlier shofs. be- 
sides other buildings, in ^^^^ fjty-four iuildivgs^ were de- 
stroyed." Another acrounl s^^ys, ''all tlie herns, stabJes, 
and out-houses, with ore or two exceptioi^s, fvow the creek 
to Newbury street v-^ere carried away. The luiildifigs swept 
avvay or irjured, such as dwelling-houpeF, barns, su.blesand 
work-shops, could not he far from one hundred." 

It is estimakd that the damage done to York and its im- 
mediate vicinity amounted to mc're ih.an two lnjn<lred 
thousand dollars. Nearly fifty families were nearly ruined. 
In short many people worth from one tosev( n thousand dol- 
lars on Saturday morning were in a few hours reduced to 
poverty. 

As this great and awful inundation was a cause not of 
private calamities only, but of losses of a public nature, op- 
plication was made to the Jegislature of ti»e state for relief 
That body at their first session after the flood, granted (on 
iSth Feb. 1818) the sum of 5000 dollars to the commis- 
sioners of the county, to be applied in building and repair- 
ing the public bridges whi(h had hev.n du^tr* yed or inj'ired; 
and likewise the sum of 1000 dollars to the burgesses of 
York, to be applied in repairing the public etrects of the bo- 
rough. 

♦Thesame account says "The expanse of several miles of wntrr 
below the town was covered with ruins: — Roofs floating down wiih 
people on them, reaching and crying for assistance; stables wi h 
gjogs, fowls and other domestic animals; wrecks covered with ta- 
blei, beds, bedsteads, chairs, desks, bureaus, clocks and clock cases, 
trunks, cradles, side-boards, and many other articles both of furni- 
tmre And cloathingj dry goods and groceries; barreU, hogsheadtt, 

N 



ITd HISTORY OF TORK COUNTf. 

FLOOD OF 1822. 
In the year 1822, York sufftred from another flood. A 
mow of letween f.ltten and eigl.tten inclies deep, fell on 
the 18th of February. On the evenirg of the 20th, a south 
wind arose, accomj anied with heavy rain: the snow dissol^ 
ved with unexampled rapidity; and on the 2 1st, the Codo- 
rus was swollen to a river. The water was within four feet 
•md four inches, of bfing as high as on the memorable 9th 
of August, 1817. From the -vast quantity of floating ice, the 
flood was very destructive to bridges,* mill-dams, &c. 

The following is an account of the j rincipal sufferers in 
York Borough. 

The tannery offtlichel Doi-de! wa.<j much injured: he lost 
moreover, a shop and a consideiable quaLtily of hides and 
leather. 

The dwelling house and brew-house of Samuel Welsfe 
were much irjured: he lo^t a frrmed ttore-honse. 

Jacob Sclilosser lost his .'■till hous-e ar d di.-tillery. 

The stables of JesFe Si;angler, of Joseph Morris ksq., and 
cf Andrew Newman were carried off. 

Jacob Siethrisi sustained considerable loss in his brick 
yard. 

Though this flood did much damage, and was well an ob- 
ject of terror, yet tlie remembranreol itloses mu<h of its in- 
terest and its dread, on account of the greater power and far 
more destructive cor.stquences of its i^redecessor. 

timber and raill-wheels ; trees, i^heaf and i ve sheaves, com outs 
fencei, &c. all passing alcng with lileiegs* bodies, down the tor- 

VOBt* 

In the country tbere wos great distress. The Raw-mill of J P 
Ring was can let! av\ay. A \n,usc ort upied by Samuel Beyer who 
lived at King:'? rapti nil), \\as fV«pi eft, and with it went everT 
thing Mr. Bo>er had ex( ept ihe cloihes on his latk. The bridcei 
•n the Baltin.oreio-.d weie bicktn down: the stage was i.nable to 
travel the road on Monday. The laitje biidfje over (he Conewae* 
•n the York Haveu road was destroyed. And so of a thousaiid oA 
Aer things." 

•In particular it iray le mentioned that three arches of thm 
Wjdge in Main etieet, Ycik, ai,d five arches otthe thtn new stone- 
fcndge over Conewapo. at Beilin. wtre thiowo dow n Ly th« (« 
«t. the bridges being ihereljy deaiioyed. 



telSTOnY OF YORK COUIfTY. Hi 

CHAPTER XXVL 

RIOT IX 1786. 

There was an affray m the Boroufrh 6f York m Decem- 
ber, 1786, which m ly not be unworthy of a brief notice, it 
being a matter still fresh in ihe recollections of many of the 
inhabitants of the town. This was a dot occasioned b? 
the excise-law then existing. 

A certain man in Manchester, viz., Jacob Bixler, Was un- 
willing to pay his tax or rather excise: whereupon his cow 
Was distrained or taken by the cDllector, for the payment. 
h was to rescue ( i. e. forcibly tike from the hands of the 
officer) this cow, that the affray h ippaned. The beasi had 
been driven by the officer from Manchester to York town, 
and. by advertisement, was on a certain day to be exposed 
to sale. On the day of the sale a company of about 100 
men set ojt from the neighborhood of the poor animal's 
former residence, armed some with clubs, others with pis- 
tols or guns; and directing their mirch towards York, 
tJiey crossed chicken bridge [at the end of north George street] 
and m singh or Indian file muclied into town. Their 
captain, who was Godfrey KmiX, led them on, with dread 
determination, to the place where her vaccine excellence 
was exposeil to vendition. This was the square where 
Main and Beaver streets cross each other. The appearance 
of such a body of men so armed f)r outrage, was the sub- 
ject of an instant alarm. They had hardly proceeded to 
commit violence when the whole town, as on the alarm of 
fire, was assembled together. The inhabitants met the ri- 
oters with the like weapons, clubs, pistols, guns and swords. 
One justice hall deprived of his senses hastened to the spot 
and supporting himself with both hands against a corner 
said ''1 command thee in my lame to keep peace." But 
something more forcible was found in the weapons of Hen- 
ry Mder, John Hay, John Edie, William Baily &c. all well 
prepared for tlie battle. Miller during the affray, struck with 
his sword at one Hoake, who leajjing over a waggon-tongue, 
just escaped the blow; the sword fa.ling upon the wagoifi 
tongue, sunk into it about an inch. 

After some boxing and striking, the party digperset^ ift 



lift HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

every direction, find the whole ft;m\ilt hushed. The men 
became ashamed oftheir folly and said tl);it "they had jusl 
come in to see what became of the money." 

Frederick Hoake w;is afterwards severely fined for cut- 
ting the rope around the cow's neck, and letting her loose, 
though the fact was, Peter ScJineider, jnn., did the very 
thing for which Hoike, innocent as to this, was punished. 

The several rioters were shortly afterwards bronglit be- 
fore the justices of the peace^ and bound f«)r appearance at 
nest court, and on the 2.Sd of Janunry 1 787, Go(]frey Kin*.';, 
Andrew Hoake, Philip King, [son of Godfrey] Piiilip VVinte- 
mcyer, George iMi'ler and Adam Huake were each bound 
before the court of Qiarter Sessions in a considerable sum 
to appear at the next Supreme court to answer such hills of 
indictment as should be presented agiinst them, r.nd not to 
depart the court without leave and in the mean time to keep 
the peace to all the liege suhjrcts of the comnionwealth." 
They accordingly appeared, and witli others of their breth- 
ren, were fined, ''juclgment being tempered with mercy." 
Tiius ended an aftVay of which many speak, and of which, 
from the much speaking we have been induced to N^rite. It 
vfRs'in I'sivA a CO w-insurrer Hon \ it brougiit Manchester and 
York into a fond and loving union. 

In January 1772 there was an uncommon fall of ynow in 
York county. On the 27th of that monl)i the snow was 
three feet and a half deep. A heavy rain then came on., 
which, freezing, formed a thick crust. — Nearly every man 
and boy in tlie county now turned out to chase deer, for 
\vhile the hunter could run fleetly on t!ie crust, the poor ani- 
mals struck through, and from the wounds received in their 
,eg«, were unable to pro<'eed fur. The consequence was 
thj.t (with exception of a few that were on t'le mountains 
ami in the more remote parts of the county) the race was 
nearly extirpated. Before that time deer were common 
throngliout the county, yet since then but few have been 
found. 

HAIL STORI^I IN 1797. 

The following account of a hail storm in the year 1797, 



HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 17S 

is extracted from manuscripts left by the Hon. Thomas 
Hartley, 

On the **** day of June 1797, there was a hail storm in 
the town of York, and in a part of the neighborhood, which 
as far as it extended, destroyed the gard^^riis and broke 
down the winter grain in a most extraordinary manner : 
there was hirdly a hope that any would be saved , but the 
farmers were able, in the harvest, to gather more than half 
of what they considered as lost. The Indian corn was ap- 
parently injured, but the sun brought it up again. The hail 
stones were prodigiously large. Several persons were in dan- 
ger of losing their lives from them. Many fowls and birds 
were killed. Some of the stones were as large as a pullet's egg, 
or as the apples then growing. Il is suj)posed that in York 
town and Buttstown, fully 10.000 panes of glass were bro- 
ken."* 

FIRE IN 1797. 

As an account of the fire which raged in York town in the 
year 1797, we give two extracts, the first from the manu- 
scripts of the Hon. Thomas Hartley, and the second from 
the private papers of another late member of the York 
bar. 

*'The hail-storm had made a serious impression upon the 
citizens; but on Wednesday night, the 5th of July, 1797, 
between the hours of 12 and 1 o'clock, the town was alarm- 
ed by the cry of fire, which it seems, had been communica- 
ted from an oven of Mr. John liay. The house of Mr. 
John Hay was soon in flames. The Reformed German 
Church also took fire. The kitchen and small stable were 
soon on fire; the stable stood about forty feet from my back 
buildmgs. The sparks and inflamed parts of shingles ascend- 
ed into the air, and were then dispersed and carried upon 
parts of the town, and far into the neighboring country. Be- 
tween twenty and tbiity houses and barns were on fire 
nearly at the same time ; but by mighty exertions, none 

*0n the 29th of May, 1821, an uDcommon hail storm destroyed 
most of the graia in the neighborhood of York. On that same day 
the heat was uncomraonly oppressive in the borouj^h of Hanover, 
and in the evening there was violent thunder and lightning: but (a 
circumstance very strange) at the distance of three DiJltts from 
Hanover there was a deitruclive hail tt^rxn. 

N 2 



174 HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

were materially injured beside those I first mentioHed. Mjr 
house, it is said, was on fire four or five times. A willow 
tree nearly fifty feet high, standing beyond my buildings, 
away from the fire, had everal of its upper branches scorched 
and burnt. — The trees and shrubs in the garden wf^re hurt. 
A sma!! bush of a monthly vvhit3 rose, at the distance of 
perhaps seventy feet from the church, was totally blasted 
and destroyed, never to rise again. So great was the heat, 
that pears hanging on espaliers in my garden, fifty feet 
from the flames, were in part roasted. — The circumstances 
of the garden, I carefidly noticed on my return home 
(which was on the 8th of July;) and I shewed the trees and 
pears to several of my acquaintances, among others, to Mr. 
Milledge, a member of Congress from Georgia. There was 
scarcely any wind at York in the night of the fire, (Mr. Mil- 
ledge says that at the great fire at Sivannah, the air was 
calm, and the horizon clear and serene.) But after the 
flames had ascended some heiglit in the sky, the sparks be- 
came disturbed and mf)re scattered, and fell upon several 
houses, which caught fire at the same time, and drew oflT 
the people from the places at which they were first engaged 
to take care of their n spective dwellings. What does great 
honour to the town is, that, though the furniture, goods, 
wares, and merchandise were carried out by different hands, 
yet scarcely a single article is, as 1 hear, missing- 

Thomas Hartley." 

The second account is as follows: 

^'Last Wednesday night was a night of terror to the in- 
hijbitants of this place. Between the hours of twelve and 
one o"* clock, a fire broke out in the back-buildings, adjoin- 
ing the dwelling-house of John Hay, Esq. l\Ir. Hay, who 
slept in one of the back rooms, on being awakened by the 
noise of tlie fire, immediately arose and gave alarm. But 
before tlie citizens had collected in numbers sufficient to 
Biake an effectual resistance to its progress, the fire had been 
communicated to the dw^elling bouse and to the German 
Reformed Church, both of which were in a few minutes all 
in flames. The fire advanced with such rapidity that all 
the efforts to save those buildin;»s were soon found to be in 
vain. The burning was, in a small degree, an object of 
terror, — ^^Sparks of fire, and blazing shingles were thrown to 
ft vagt height) many of them falling upon houses and itable& 



HISTORY OF TORK COUNTf, 175 

in different parts of the town. From fifteen to twenty 
buildings, among which was the court house, were on fire du- 
ring the° night. All however, except the two first mention- 
ed, were saved through the vigilance and activity of the cit- 
izens. The buildings in the immediate neighborhood of 
Mr. Hay's house and°of the church, were almost continually 
on fire; but. by the most surprising intrepidity and perse- 
verance of the citizens, tlie ruinous element, which threa- 
tened general devastation, was, at last under the favor of a. 
calm night, happily subdued. 

'^The citizens, animated with a sense of duty as well as 
danger, exerted their utmost strength in warring against 
the invading flames. S jme were stationed on the roofs of 
the neighboring houses, where they remained for hours a- 
midst fire and smoke, resisting the progress of the destroy- 
ing element, which seemed every moment to be gathering 
with fresh fury around them: some kept the fire engines in 
continual operation, while others furnished a constant supply 
of water. JVI my of the fair sex, of every age, strengthened 
by strong apprehensions of danger, were employed the 
greater part of the night in conveying water, thereoy con- 
tributing mucii to the common safety. A few strangers, 
who were accidentally in the town, also rendered essential 
service. 

"At about six o'^clock in the morning the danger was over.. 
No lives were lost, and but two persons were materially 
hurt. Mr. Hay lost part of his furniture, a large quantity of 
grain, 8lc. but his papers, and most valuable eflects, it it 
said were saved. The church organ, bells, and records 
were entirely destroyed. * * * 

"The fire appears tohave origin-^ted from an oven, in the 
walls of which a wooden post was placed to support the 
shed above. The oven had been twice heated the preceding 
day; and as there was but the thickness of a brick between 
the fire and the wooden post, it is probable that by long and 
repeated use of the oven, the wall separating the fire from 
the wood, had been in some measure demolished ; so that 
the wood became exposed, and, when the oven was heated, 
took fire ; but that, for want of air, the fire made so slo\¥ a- 
progress thai it did not break out till late at aight." 



176 HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 



DROUGHT OF 1822. 

Persons who liad lived nearly a century had witnessed 
nothing like the great drought of 1822. There was no rain 
of any conseq'ience from the 'ilst of February, the time of 
the flood, until sonieiirue in September, a period of about 
six months. Fountains which had been considered as per- 
ennial, were dried up. Grinding was not done at one mill 
OLitoften; and where grituling was done, tlie demand for 
flour was not siipi)Iied. Many firmers went twenty miles 
to mill, and then were obliged to return with a quantity of 
flour not sufficient to satisfy immediate want. An ac- 
count of the drought written on the 13th of August says 
"the summer crops have almost totally failed; some fields 
will yield not a grain of corn, and the best fields not more 
than a few bushels to the acre." Shortly after this there 
were two showers, which greatly relieved the distress of the 
country: the one fell on the 23d and the other on the 24th 
of August. The showers, however, did not extend to the 
north-western part of the county, where the distress arising 
from the drought was still excessive. As a proof that tha 
scarcity of water at this time was unparalleled, it may be 
mentioned that on the I3th of September, 1822, there was 
not a drop of water to be seen in the channel of the Big Con- 
ewa^o, at the place where the bridge is thrown across it on 
the Carlisle road. At low water, the stream there is gener- 
ally from 90 to 120 feet wide. 



CHAPTER XXVII. ♦ 

GEOLOGY OF YORK COUJVTY. 

York county is mostly of transition formation. 

A ridge of Roof Slate, commencing near the Susquehan- 
na river in tlie South East corner of the county extendi 
several miles along the Southern line of the county, and fur- 
nishes an abundance of slate of the best quality. 



HisTORr OF YORK couxxr. 177 

A!)nvo the Roof Siite, and occupying a considerable por- 
tion of the Soiith Eisierii townships of the caiinty, is a 
range of Siiiaifig Argillite; pissiniT m some places into Stea- 
tite, under which, in one or t>v() places, Dolomite, or Mug- 
nijsiin carboiiato of lime, have boen dincovered by sinkinj 
sh lifts. 

North of this range of Argil!i(?, is a more extensive one 
of C.hJorite rock, aitjrniilin..^ wilh, or c.o itii lin:^^ veins of 
Qiartz, overhiid with Red Shale, and Micacious Sciiiste, con- 
taining G.rn, to. 

From ihij rang?, we descend jDto tlie cji'e.t Lim-.'stono 
v?d!ey ofYoik, c.^ntiining Bujo and White Li-n;!,-t,nr)e, with 
veins of very beautitul Cal. S.) ir Calcifjroiis SmdRick. 

A ridge of Gray Wacke form;:tion, and eo-^^^isting of Gray 
WiickeSindstone, Gray Wacke Si ite, afid R ibble, of the 
character of the Cocalico \liiIstone:=? of fmicaster county, 
rnns North of the York Limsstoae Valley Com the Si^>]i.;- 
Iianna river. 

North of this Gray Wacke elevation, and nearly as ex- 
tensive, is a second valley of Limestone, under which thero 
is a thin layer, or stratum of coal, in no place more than 
four inches thick. 

In the North part of this valley, tlie Conglomerate, or 
Breccia marble, of the range extending fro.n tlie Poto;nac 
through the D. of Colum!)ia, Frederick county Maryland, 
York, Lane ister, and Berks coiinly &c. in Penn'a., crops out 
in two or three places, in favorable situations for quarrying, 
and of a qtialiiy fit for use or ornament. 

This second or North Limestone valiny is terminated by 
tlie Old Red San Istone formation of tlie Conewago hill.', 
which occupies nearly the balance of the county to the 
North. The great Limestone valley of Cumberland coun- 
tv, a narrow strip of which extends into York county, sue* 
ceeds to the Korth of iho Red Sand g\.one furoiaticn. 



There are in a number of townships of York county, 
denosits of Iron of a greater or less extent, some of which 
furnish ore of a an excellent quality for manufacture. 

ladicatioiis of Copper exist in a number of places in this 



17S HISTORY OP YORK COUNTY. 

county, but no extensive depo^ite ha^ yet benn discovered. 

Silphiiret of Lead, or Galena, has been found in sma 11 
portions near tlie Susquehanna. 

Sulphuret oflroi is extensively disseminated. 

Coloplionite, Prise, Actynolite, Asbestos, Mag. Ox. of I- 
ron, and iVlicacions ox. of Ir )n, exist in different pirts of 
the county. No F.issil renuins fnve yet been found. 

Particles of Gold have been found, and ve-y strong indica- 
tions exisft of pretty extensive drpo.vits of this rnintralin 
several townships South of the Li uioatone valley of York. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

INCORPORATED BOROUGHS ly YORK 
COUNTY. 

1. The Borough of YORK was incorporated on the 24th 
ofSeptember, 1787. [Fi)r an account of the Borough see 
pages 3-2 — 40, of this volume.] 

2. The Borough of HANOVER was incorporated on 
the 4th ofiMarch, 1315. [See pages 60—65 of this vol- 
ume.] 

3. The Borough of LEVVISBERRY was incorporated 
on the 2d of April, 1832. 

Lewisberry derives its name from Eli Lewis, by whom 
it was founded. It is agreeably situated at the western 
boundary of Newberry township, about 14 miles from the 
county seat, 18 from Carlisle, and 10 from the seat of 
government of the state. The state road from Lancaster 
to Carlisle passes through the borough. The present pop- 
ulation of Lewisberry is about 260. There is one Meeting 
House in the borough for Methodists, and one in the vicin- 
ity for Lutherans and Ref»)rmed Presbyterians. The 
Uev. Mr. Lauer, of Germany, is the present Lutheran Min- 
ister. There is a grist mill on Bennet's run, in the im- 
mediate vicinity of the borou«;h, to which is attached a 
saw mill, and machinery for boring and grinding gun bar- 



HISTORT or TOKK COUKTT. J 7f 

rcls. There is also a mill, wifhjn (he borough boundaries 
purposely constructed for boring and giindinggun arrels 
and ,„, these two e^tabCshn.enls .heLrrels^a?e f„3 
the boro.,gh. A variety of mechanical blanches afe in 

sa"n1 iTtt^t.!:;"^''' ''" "" '■"''^ ^'•^'"- ""- - "»' P'- 
IRsi ^'''I'S'^UKG wns incorporated on the 9th of April 

of ctroll In^^h"^ ," ^r"'^ '""'"""^ '" "'* "^^ '""-"^'"P 
Dill,t, ", ' ^'"^i ""^ -"corporation the boundaries of 

Uillsburg are described as follows : 

Firlulhl"'"^ 'r * ,''""• ^<'i"'"ing 'l^^ lands of Frederick 
Eiclulberger.alinebesnrRnonh eiphfj-six and a quarter 
degrees, west one hundred nnd f..ur .e, hes, ,o a^ po , 
hence sooth twelve degrees, e.st one hundred and ninety' 

LTZTr to- "T^' *''i! 'T' •"■'""-« Mumper and P £ 
Lighjnetio a white oak; thence north one and a q.iarter 

3r and McMullen's heirs, to a «hite oak; -tKFi^e^S 
one and a qua. ter degrees, east one hundred and fiftyseve. 

etf b^iTnfn?;'^^''^^^^^- -"^•"'"" '^-"P"' -"« 

pri'- liu^r^^l'"'' T '""^-P-'^^don the 9th of A- 
«^o borough ,s situat.d in a township of the 

BaT.Lorr'.?"i"'%'""'l"*" '■""•' f'^dirgfrcmYork o 
Baltimore. Its boundaries are described in the act of in- 
corporation as follows: 

r,,},?."^'""'.?^ »t stones, thence by land of Peter Ruhl and 

eml;'° ;,''''".'^-'T'"'^§"'^^' ^«' ^"d hundred and 
eigteen perches and a half to stones: souih six and a half 
degrees, west one hundred and foi.y-seven perches and a 

.^l'JrZT?''r"'^ ''^'" -^^S"*'' ^^^t '"° hundred and 
SIX perches, to stones; n„rth seventv-two degrees, east one 
hundred and eighteen perches andan half.to^ston sTlru! 
eight degrees, west two liundred and six perches, to tones 
aorth SIX degrees and a half, east one h.fndred 'and S 
.even perches and an half, to the place of beginning » " 

April m4"'"T?T'-^ r' --^P'-t'd - the 14,h of 
n He Up ; ." '"""."S'' '" *'"'«'<'^ o" "'6 Su.qnehanna, 
Lrv r, ft'"TP- I'.«'^f<>™^rly known as Wright^ 
>erry-bu after the erection of the Columbia bridge over 

L.Tw'k." ?,?'">" '"'' "'^ °'^ »»■»«. and haf borne 
tat of Wnghtsville tot a number of years. It was at on* 
«.. » c»aten.pIa,ion to „,ake th/ground up^ %h^ 



ISO HISTORY OP YORK COUXTY. 

Wrightsville Flrnds, tic- scito of the Capital of the United 
Stales. Gen. Wasrhirgtiin wrs tainf stiy in favor of erect 
ing the national l.uildings htre. urging its beauty, 
its security, &c., indeftnce of his p(tfer( nee — hut a small 
m^jori'y prevailed rgainsl liirn. Some of t lie events of the 
late war, (events vvIik h we do not v^.ry well like to sprak 
or thii.U (f.) would prrhaps rot have occurred, hrid the 
wishes of Gen. Washiigton jirf.vailed. 

We snljoin the fxrsi section ofihe act of Assembly by 
which Wijgliteville was cmstituK d a boroiijjh. 

''Be it eriactf d Stc, 7 hot ihe villages of Wrightsville and 
Westphalia, in thecoipty ofYcik, {-hall be and the same are 
herely erected into a bon ugh. which shsll be called the 
boroiigh c»f Wrightsville, ;.nd shall be bounded and limited 
as follows, viz: Begin n: tig fta Lirch tiee (,n the river Sus- 
c]U(hanna, at the fett of Bridget street and land of W^illiam 
Wright, south seventy fve- d«grics, west ninety five perclies, 
to a black oak on the h.nd if James Wright; thence along 
said land to Fourth street; thence alo!!g the west side of 
said street, south t\^elve s.nd a half degrees, west eighty nine 
perches and a quarter, to the north side of Locust street; 
along the north side of said street, south seventy seven de- 
grees, west ninety tight perches to a post on Jonathan Mif- 
flin's land; tie nee twdsij six ai;d a half perel-es, to the 
middle of Helh:m stre«t; the, nee along said stsect, north 
seventy seven degrees, cast one hunelred and eighteen 
perches and a half, to the west side of Third street, south 
twenty two degrees, east f.fty six perches, to the south side 
of a street adjoining laid of Jose; h Detwillcr; thence 
along said street, north sexfy ei^ht degrees, east twenty 
perches, to the west side (f B; rnes' alley: thence souuth 
twenty three degree's, east twe),ty ei^ht pciches, to a post oa 
Joseph Detwiller's land; thence south two degrees, east for 
ty eight perches to a Ha<kl,i!ry tree; thence south thirty six 
and a half degrees, east «i;.'hty ptrclie'F,to a hickory stump; 
thence north seventy tight arid a half degrees, east eighty 
six perches, to a poplar btunp; thence north twelve and a 
half degrees, west tv.enty four j erches, to ihe river Susque- 
hanna, at the mouth cf Krcutz creek; thence north-west 
by the said river three hunditd and liixtecn perches to tk^ 
»lac© of beginning.'* "* 






HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY. 1*1 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



UJ^INCDRPORiiTED TOWiVS IN YORK 
COUNTY. 

BUTrSTDWN" is situate(i in We?t-Minchestor 
township, and adjoins th9 borough of York. ItsM ajp 
Mreet is a coiiimiatioa of the street of the same name ofj 
York Borough. It is on the tarnpike road leading froni 
York to G<3ttysbtjrg. 

DOVER ii pleasantly situated i i a to.vnship of the same 
name about 7 miles from llie borough of York, on the 
«tate roai leading from York to Carlisle. 

FRANKLIN" is situated in a township of the same r.am?» 
uear the Northern boundary of the county, being about 
two miles from the hue of Camberland and York coun- 
ties. 

FREYSTOWN" isavillacre in Springgarden township^ in 
the immediate vicinity of York B irough, and on the turn- 
pike road leading from York to Lancaster. 

JEFFERSON" is situated in the large township of Codo- 
TU3, about 14 miles South West of York B)rough. 

LIVERPOOL is about 7 miles North of York Borough, 
<jn the turnpike road leadmg from York to Harrisburg, V 4 
LOGANSVILLE is in Shrewsberry township, about 7 
miles from the borough of York, on the turnpike road lead- 
ing from York to Baltimore. 

NEWBERRY is situated in a township of the sam© 
name, about 3 miles from the borough of Lewisberr/, and 
about 4 and a half mdes from York Haven. ' 

NEW HOLLAND is in Manchester township. It lies 
«n the Susquehanna^ and is distant about 8 miles from th^ 
borough of York. 

NEW MARKET is a flourishing village in Fair^icw, 
township, in the extreme North Eastern corner of the 
county, on the turnpike road leading from York to Harria- 
burg. It is pleasantly situated near the Susquehanna rirer. 
ROSSTOWN is in Warrington township, about a miU 
North of Great Concwago creek, on the state road ieadiiif 
irom York to Carlisle. 



J 82 m STORY OF YORK COUNTY. 

SIDDONSBURG is a very small village in Monaghan 
lown«!l)ip. * 

STEVVARTSTOWN or MECFIANICSBURG is in Hope- 
well tow n,shi|), near tho scMithern boundnrv of the county, 
abo.it five ,n,les K.St of Shrewsbury and about IS miles 
JSoiith ol York Borough. 

STRINE.S'roWN IS situatefl in Conewago township, ou 
the roMd Inadin^r from York to Newberry. 

WEIGELSTOWN,isasmall village in Dover townshiiy,a- 
bont five rniles from York, on the state road leading from 
York foCarlish'. « ^ 

^ YORK HAVEN", in Newberry township, is situated on 
Uie S«i8q.ieJianna, about 10 miles from the borough of 
York, on tke turnpike leading from York to Uarrisburg. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

PlTBtilC IMPROVEMENTS IN YORK 
<; COUNT V. 

A twnfjike rmd traverses the county from the Susque- 
banhfi^hver at Wri^ht^ivjlle on the East to the Ad'amacoun- 
tjr lirtfi on the West. 

A inrnpike road crosses the county, from the Maryland 
hne on tlie South, to the Cumberland couniy line on the 
North. 

A inrnpike ro-.d from Carlisle in Cumberland county, 
ind anoth r from Berlin, in Adams county, both 
leading to the city of Biltimore, cross the townships 
of H -i-ielDerg and iVIinheim, in this county, passing 
through the borongii of Hanover. 

. The C )<h)nis creek has been rendered navigable for arks^ 
fBfis, Sic , from its mouih to theoorf)nu||«)f York, a distance 
ofaljout ten n. lies." This impr: venient was con»pleted in 
1934, iit\i\ is the properly of a chartered asfloci;ition called 
the^'Codorns Navijjation Company." This Navig;ition will 
«od<Mjbt Ir-iid v.^ry much to the advantage and prosperity of 
tiio borough of York, aflbrdiug a cheap and safe passag* 



HI8T0R1 OF tORK COUIfTT. j^S 

lor lumber, coal, &c. from the Susq-ielnnna tothe boroush 
in the spring of the present year imtiiense quantities of lurn> 
ber and coal and several large arks of ^run were brought 
to the borough of York, through this new medium, and so 
far asan opportunity has been had to test the utility of the 
work, It has more than fulfilled the expectations of its most 
sanguine friends. 

There are also numerous state and county roads; and all 
cur streams are bridged wherever public conveaience r^^ 
^tiircs ]t. 



miOG:B.A.WMtcAt, smsTcnBS. 



Ooionel Thomas Hartley was born in the neighborhood 
of Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of Sep- 
tember, 1748. Having received the rudiments of a good 
classical education in that town, he removed when eigh- 
teen years of age, to York, Pa., when he commenced 
thestudy of the law under the tuition of Mr. Samuel John- 
son. Having pursued his law studies with diligence for 
the term of three years, he was admitted to practice in the 
courts of York on the 25th of July, 1769. He now arose 
in his profession with an almost unexampled rapidity, for hs 
not only had a thorough knowledge of the law, but was ac- 
quainted with two languages, each of which was then neces- 
sary in such a county as York : his early days having been 
spent in Reading, then as now mostly peopled by Germans, 
he was from childhood acquainted with their lancruacre, 
which he spoke with the fluency of an orator. Another 
thing which favored young Hartley, much, was that 
he and the Hon. James Smith were for some time the onlf 
practicing lawyers of the county; Mr. Johnson with whom 
he had studied being then prothonotarj. 

H;irtley was early distinguished as a warm friend of his 
country, both in the cabinet and in the field. In the year 
1774 lie was elected by tlie citizens of York county, a 
member of the provincial meeting of deputies which was 



4 BIOGRAPHICAL SK£TCHE?. 

held at Philadelphia on the 15th of July. In the year 
1775, ho was a member, from the same county, of the pro- 
TJncial convfintion which was held at Philadelphia on the 
23d of January. 

The war of the revolution was now approaching and 
Hartley \va3 soon distinguished as a soldier. The com- 
mittee of safety for Pennsylvania recommended a number 
of persons to Congress, for field officers to the sixth battal- 
ion ordered to be raised in that colony; and Congress ac- 
cordingly on the 10th of January 1776, elected Wiiiiam Ir- 
win, Eiq. as Colonal, Thom.is Hartley, Esq. as Lieut. 
Colonel, and James Dunlap, Esq. as Mnjor. Mr. Hartley 
-was shortly afterwards promoted to the full degree of Col- 
onel. 

Colonel Hartley having continued about three years in 
faithful and laborious duty as an officer, wrote a letter lo 
Congress on tho I3th of February 1779, desiring leave lo 
resign his commission. Congress thinking the reasons of- 
fered satisfactory^, accepted his resignation, and on the same 
day resolved that they had '-a hi^'h sense of Colonel Hart- 
ley's merit and services.'^ 

In October 1778, he was elected a member of the sli:^ 
legislature from the county of York. • 

In the year 1783, he was elected a member of the council 
of censors, the first day of whose meeting was on the 10th 
of November. 

In the latter part of the year 1787, he was a member of 
the state convention w-hich adopted the constitution of t'le 
United States. 

In the year 1788, he was elected a member of congress, 
and accordingly attended their first session under the pres- 
ent constitution. As a new order of things had now com- 
menced, the public mind was filled with hope and fear. 
The citizens of York county had taken a great interest in 
the establishment of the new constitution, and as Colonel 
Hartley was the first person who was to go forth from among 
them, as a member of Congress under that constitution, they 
determined in the warmth of their feelings, to shew him ev- 
ery honour. When he set out from York on the 23d of 
February 1789 on his way to the city of New-York, where 
the congress was to sit, he was accompanied to the Susque- 
hanna by a great number of the inhabitants of the borough 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, 



rltfuT^ '^V^' '"^ was there received by a company 
r. o.^ that part of the county and from Lancaster. The cit- 

snlZf" ?'r'''-^ ^^ \ ^^'""^^' ^"d the whole was one 
ardvedat't u?"p ^^^'" "" '^' ^^^^ '^^^is return, he 
Z\lffl\^''^^'^l'^^''y ^'^ *h^ 6th of October, he Vas 
met at that place by a number of gentlemen from the bo- 
ro ngh and county of York, and wa. there cond.icted to his 
house m town amidst the acclamations of his friends and 



fellow citizens. 



Colonel Hartley continued a member of Congress for a- 
dcath ' ^''''' ^' '"'' ''''^' ""*^^*^^^ t""^^ ^^ ^'''' 

On the 28th of April 1800, he was commissioned by gov- 
ernor M>Kean as Major General of the fifth division ofShe 
Adams ^"''' ' consisting of the counties of York and 

in^lV'^^ of labor, usefulness, and honour was now draw- 
h.r? 1L%^ ^^^' ''^''^ ""^^ destroying his energies, and 
«n1 tT^^ commenced the work of death. After a long 
and tedious sickness he died at his house in York, on the 
morning of the 21st of December IS'OO, aaed 52 vea^s S 
inonths, and 1 4 days. When his mortal parF was deposited 
in the burial ground of the Church of St. John's, the 
tollowmg tribute of respect to his memory was paid, by 
the Rer. Dr. John Campbell, his pastor and friend: 

"If r could blow the trump of fame over you ever so loud 
and long,— what would you be the better for all this noise ? 
yet,-^let not your integrity, patriotism, fortitude, hospitalitr * 
and patronage be forgotten~An«ther-( who need not be 
named}-.hath borne away the palm of glory,-splendid with 
me never-dying honour of rearing the stupendous fabric of 
American freedom and empire. Departed friend l—you 

* Colonel Hartley was the first gentleman from the State of 

lluT\?T '^ATl'^""''''^ a%ounseJJor in the Supreme 

°^ o A^^ u"'*.^^ ^?^^'- The first session of that court 

oX T?n>^^V-^"/''y ^^.^^^ ^°^'^' ^'^«" '^^ «e^t of Government 

o! the United Slates, on Monday the 1st of February 1799. The , 

^"hln «^'f''°«*^^^°""'^i'''" ""^^ °" ^''^^y^ ^l^e 5th of that month. 
When Ehas Boudinot, Esq. of New Jersey, Thomas Hartley. Esq. 
01 Pennsylvania and Richard Harrison Esq. of New York respect- 
iTeiy appeared in oourt, took the oath for that purpose, and were ap- 
pointed counsellors of the said court accordingly." These wef© 
ail wno wef« admitted dturing the first week of the session. 

A2 



4 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

hear me not,-— the gravo is deaf and silent. In this work 

of blessings to future ages you bore, though a subordi- 
nate, yet an honourable part. Soldiers of liberty ! como 

drop a tear over your companion in arms. Lovers of jus-^ 

tice! come drop a tear over her able advocate,— and ot 
science, come drop a tear over its warmest patron,— chil- 
dren of misfortune! come, drop a tear over your benefactor 

and protector. Brethren of this earthly lodge ! rejoice . 

that our brother is removed to the temple of the Supreme 1 

Ministers of religion! come, drop a tear to the memory 

of a man, who (lamenting human frailty) was ever the 

friend of truth and virtue. And thou my soul! come 

not into the assembly of those who would draw his repo- 
sed spirit from the bosom of his Father who is in hea- 
ven." 

As an appendix to tlie biography of this soldier and states- 
man, we give the following address to his constituents which 
he published a short time before his decease and which is 
•one of the last acts of his life. 

Fellow Citizens, 

Through want of health, and a wish to 
retire from a sedentary public life and to attend to my pri- 
vate concerns, which have been much deranged by my ab- 
sence from York town, I have been induced most fixedly 
to decline serving in the House of Representatives in Con- 
gress after the third day of March next. Indeed it is 
well known that for some years past 1 have not wished to 
be elected; and shouKl long since have declined the hon- 
our had it not been for the political condition of the world 
and of our own States in particular, which have frequent- 
ly suftered from two great nations|— I hupe however 
we shall soon have peace. 

A great portion of my life has been devoted to the ser- 
Tice of my country as will appear from tlie following facta 
1 have to say that 1 was in two provincial conventions pre- 
vious to the revolution, that [ served in the revolutionary 
armv more than three years, was one year in the assem 
bly of the state of Pennsylvania, in the council. of censors 
one year, was in the convention which adopted the con 
stitution of the United States, jmd have been twice electee 
by the citizens of Pennsylvania at general elections, aw 



BIOGRAPHICAL StETCHES. / 

four times at district elections, as a member of the house 
of representatives in congress. In sume instances 1 have 
perhaps been useful; but I may say I have ever desired to 
advance the interests of the United States as tar as my 
powers and constitution would admit. 1 shal endeavor 
to be of as much service as possible in the militia, which 
will occasionally require some attention and exercise. 

I thank the citizens of Pennsylvania at large lor shew- 
iua their frequent confidence in me, and particularly ot 
that part of the state composing York and Adams coun- 
ties, and wish them every happiness. 

lam with due respect for them, 

THOMAS HARTLEY, 

York, Sept Sth 1800. 

js[, B.— My indisposition has retarded this publication 
longer than I intended." 

jVofe —Colonel Hartley was married to a daughter of Bernhart 
Holtzinger of York County. He had two children viz a son. 
Charles William Hartley, for some time prothonotapy of Yor^ 
county, and a daughter. Eleanor, married to DrJame^ Hall, who 
was afterwards physiciaa to the Lazaretto at Philadeipma, 



HO:sr. JAMES SMITH. 

The American people have for a long time taken a deep 
interest in whatever concerns those illustrious worthies 
who signed their names to the declaration of independence. 
The biographies of most of them have been written, where- 
by the events of their lives are familiar to the public; but 
of some ofthem little is now known & bat little can be col- 
lected; for the records of families have been destroyed, and 
the memories of friends have faded. There is not a record 
in manuscript or in print that gives a biography of Mr. 
Smith; nor are there many sources whence materials for 
his life can be drawn. A misfortune which happened the 
year before his death destroyed his private papers and with 
them all his family records. From relations but little 
cafl )b« gathered— for of all his descendants m any degree Qn^ 



O BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

only now lives. This quick fading of the past into the ohscu^ 
niy of ignorance or uncertainty should remind us how flee- 
tjngjiow transitory, how like a shadow life is; fifty years 
hence and who will speak of «s, if those who once direct- 
ed the councils of their country and were the foremost in 
her senates, have passed away, leaving (with the exception 
of some one solitary monuniont of their greatness) no trace 
of life or deed. 

Mr. John Smith, father of the Hon. James Smith, was 
born and educated in Ireland, in which country he was a re- 
spectable and enterprising farmer. But having a large fam- 
ily, he thought that in the new world he could provide bet- 
ter for those who would follow him; he determined there- 
fore to visit America and take up his abode in the vallies of 
Pennsylvania. What induced him to prefer this one of the 
colonies, was that some of his brothers and uncles had em- 
igrated hither before him, having come over with Penn 
"when that proprietor first visited tiiis province. Those of his 
relations settled in Chester county and became Q-iakers; 
their decendants still live in that county and the county of 
Lancaster. 

Mr. John Smith being thus induced to follow his rela- 
tions, sailed from Irelmd with his family, and after a voyafre 
of a few weeks, arrived at Philadelphia. His sons who 
came over with him were in the order of their ages, George 
James, and Arthur. Several daughters likewise accompa- 
nied their father to the new world; but of them little 
that is certain, is now known. 

Mr. John Smith proceeded with his family to Lancaster 
county, and finally settled west of the Susquehanna in what 
is now York county. Here he continued to reside until a- 
bout theyear 1761, when he died in the neighborhood of 
Yorktown, at an advanced age, an example of all the happy 
virtues of domestic life. 

George Smith, the eldest son of Mr. John Smith, studied 
law in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, under the tuition of Thom- 
as Cookson,Esq. I£e was admitted to the bar in that place, 
and resided there in the practice of law until the time 
of his death. In company with a number of his friends he 
went to the river Susquehanna to bathe, opposite the place 
where Columbia now stands; but while in the water he 
IV w seized with the cramp j and before assistance could b« 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 9 

given, assistasice was useless. He is represented as a 
young man whose prospects were bright, and who seemed 
destined to enjoy many future honours. 

Arthur, the third and the youngest son of John, and a 
brother of James Smith, resided for some years as a firmer 
in Newberry township, in York county. He afterwards re- 
moved with a large family of children, into the Western 
country and has not since been heard of. 

James Smith, the second son of John, and the subject 
of our present biography, was aged about ten years when 
he came with his father into this country. He resided in 
the paternal mansion for some years; but when his brother 
George had begun to practice law, he removed to Lancas- 
ter, and commenced in his office, the study of the same 
profession. He completed his law studies under the tuition 
of his brother, at the time of whose deuth he was aged but 
twenty one. 

Not long after he was admitted to the practice of the 
law, he removed to the neighborhood of the place where 
SIffppensburg now stands, in company with Mr. George 
Uoss, who was the friend and companion of Mr. Smith in 
" early and later life. The chief occupation of Mr. Smith in 
his new abode, was that of surveying; thou;:^h wiieaever 
occasion offered, he gave advice on subjects'connected with 
his profession. After a few years \m removed to the town 
ofYork, where he made his permanent home for the rest 
of his life. Here he commenced the practice of the law, 
and continued in it with few intermissions uniil near the 
time of his death. 

Hitherto Mr. Smith had led a single life ; but in or about 
the year 1760 he married Eleanor Armor, daughter of Joiui 
Armor, who lived near New-Castle in Delaware, and who 
was brother of Thomas Armor, a justice and surveyor in 
York county before the Revolution. Eleanor, at the age of 
twenty one, came to reside for a while with her uncle in 
York ; but in less than a year after her arrival, she was wed- 
ded to one of the best of husbands. 

Mr. Smith begun about this time to have a very exten- 
sive practice -. he attended the courts of all the neighbor- 
ing counties. With no other events in his life than those 
which are incident to most gentlemen of his profession, he 
continued in York until the beginninjj of the revolution. 



\ 



i^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

But here it should be remarked that Mr. Smith was for som« 
lime the only lawyer in York; for though Joseph Yeates 
and other lawyers of the neighboring counties did much 
business here, yet Mr. Smith had (with the exception of 
perhaps of a few years) no brother in the law that resided 
here. When Thomas Hartley, afterwards Colonel in the 
revolution, and a member of congress, commenced prac- 
tice here in the year 1769, tliere were but two lawyers in 
the county of York, viz. himself and Mr Smith.* 

At the commencement of the revolution, Mr Smith was 
distinguished as one of the warmest friends of our liber- 
ties. ^ 

In 1774, he was chosen a deputy from the county of 
York to attend a provincial meeting at the city of Philadel- 
phia j which meetmg began on the 15 th of June and was 
continued by adjournments from day to day. Mr. Smith 
was one of those who were appointed by this meeting or 
rather "committee for the province of Pennsylvania," to 
"prepare and bring in a draught of instructions" '"to the 
representatives in assembly met."| 

In ivrs, he was elected a member for York county of the 
•'Provincial Convention for the province of Pennsylvania^ 
Iield at Philadelphia January 23d and continued by adjourn- 
ments from day to day, to the 28th." In the 'same year 
he received a military honour, viz. the appointment of 
Colonel. 

In 1776 lie was deputed by the committee of York 

*For3ome years before and daring the revolution, Mr. Smith was 
concerned in iron works on the Codorus creek, where the 'Codo- 
rus forge'' now stands. From his studious habits he was but ill 
calculated for business of this kind; he lost by those works about 
5000 pounds, and of the two manaji;er5 who w ere the cause of it, he 
said with his wonted pleasantry "that the one was a knave, and the 
other a fool-" 

From the records in the office of the Register and Recorder, I 
find that the forge and furnace on the Cocioi us Creek in the town- 
ship of Hellatn, were formerly owned by William lJennet;a3 the 
property of Bennet, they were sold by the Sheriff on 27th May 1771 
to Charles Hamilton; Hamilton on the 9th of November in the 
same year sold them to Mr. Smith; and xMr. Smith on the ICth of 
April 1778 sold them to Thomas Neil. 

fThese Instructions together with the "Essay on the constitutional 
power of Creat Britain over the Colonies in America," form the 
niost learned state paper ever wiittea in Pennsylvania; this may 
be called the commencement of the revolution io our state. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ii 

county "to join in a provincial conference of committees of 
the province of Pennsylvania:" the conference was held 
at Philadelphia and began on tne 18th of June and ended 
on the Si5ih of the same month. In the same year (1776) 
he was elected a member of the convention for the state 
of Pennsylvania which commenced their session at Phila- 
delphia on the 15th of June and ended it on the 28th of 
September: this convention framed the first constitution of 
the commonwealth. In the same year (1776) he was elect- 
ed a delegate from Pennsylvania to serve in the continental 
congress, at which time he signed the declaration of indc^" 
pendence. 

Mr. Smith was likewise a member of Congress in the 
year 1777 and 1778. When Congress sat in York, the 
board of war was held in his law office. 

After'the cessation of his congressional labors, he contin- 
ued to reside in York, devoting himself with great suc- 
cess to the practice of the law. 

In October 1780, we find him elected a member of the 
general assembly of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Smith becoming burthened with a weight of vears ^ 
snd having a sufficiency of this world's goods, lelinquished 
the practice of the law in 1801. 

An event happened in the autumn of 1805, which is 
much to be regretted, viz. the destruction of his office by 
fire.* His books and papers of business, which were on 
the lower floor, were saved, but all his numerous private 
papers, which were in the upper part of the building, were 
destroyed. Among these were the records of the family 
and manuscripts of his own connected with the history of 
the times, and numerous letters from Benjamin Franklin 
Satt»uel Adams, and many other m.en distinguished in the 
revolutionary history of our country. Mr. Smith cor- 
responded, both during and after the revolution, with ma« 

♦This fire, Tvhich happened on the ]7(h of August in (he above 
laerinoned year [1805] originated in the harn of Jchn Hay Eso 
ivhich was set on fire by an incendiary, and was consi.med with its 
contents, consis ing of about 700 bu/hels of ^r^in. The fiTe was 
wr/r"'"^''"^*^^ ^ """^^"'' of adjoinini buildirgs. ^^0^^ 
those destroyed, H.ay be mentioned a tavern-htuse. the property o? 
?o»i til ^'''^'r'^?>'/P'o^.^y''°^» Glessner. another dwelling 

Xl'oS.SJffiLgL"'" '^'""^^^ ^^^ «^- ^'''- ^-^^^^ -^^' 



i2 ElOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. \ 

ny of those patriots with whom he had been in intimate 
connection while a member of cong-ress: &. as their letters 
were destroyed, the burning- of the office may be considered 
a public loss. 

Mr. Smith employed his latter days in conversation 
with his friends, and in reviewing and re-perusing those 
works which had been the delioht of liis youth. In view 
of his present and increasing intiimities. he made his will 
on the 25th of April 1806.* He died at' his house in York 
on the nth July in the same year, at a very advanced age. 
There is no small diilference of opinion with regard to 
the age of Mr. Smith. His tomb-stone erected by his son 
James, in the yard of the English Presbyterian Church at 
Yoik, states that he was ninety three vears old at the 
time of his death. Many of his sui viving* friends say that 
he could noi have been so old, and place his age at about 
eighty seven; others say that he was not more than eighty 
lour or five. Two points however we have as certain, viz. 
that he was but ten years of age when he came to America, 
and was but twenty one years of age at the time of his 
brother George's death; supposing his age then to have 
^/-eii-eighty sev^n (a matter on which there is doubt) he 
must have been born In 1719 and came with his father lo' 
America in 1729, and have lost his brother George in a740, 
at which time he, (James) had completed his study of 
the law. An obituary notice of Mr. Smith says "he was 
the oldest advocate in York and perhaps in Pennsylvania, 
for he had been in practice of the iavv more than fifty years.-' 
He could not but have been a member of the bar betweei) 
sixty and sixty five years. 

*Ihave thought that In the will of Mr. Smith I rould discover 
seme traits of his originality of character: he goes, like a man of 
business, directly to the point. The following we have transcribed 
irom the original in the office of the Register of wills. "I, James 
Smith, the elder, of the borough of York, in Pennsylvania, do hereby 
give and devise unto my son James Smith, his heirs and assigns for- 
ever, all that lot of ground fituated on the north side of mv dwel- 
ling and adjoining the alley, as the same is now under f^nce, and 
aato the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real and personal, 
of whatsoever it may fxist, I will and devise the same to my belov. 

.'^ f'..r^**"°'^ Smith, to hold and to have during the term of her 
A rU im' W»'"««« "»y band and seal this twenty-fifth day of 

JAMES SMITH,*' 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. IS 

5Jr. Smith, having lived through one generation and the 
half of another, witnessed many changes in the political 
world. He was born in the reign of George the first, came 
to America in the reign of George the second, and helped 
to throw off British allegiance in the reign of George the 
third: having witnessed the completion of his country's 
olory, he died in peace. 

'^ Mr. Smith was remarkable for an uncommonly reten- 
tive memory, the strength of which did not seem to be im- 
paired bv age. He was uniformly facetious and fond of an- 
ecdotes,' which he always told with a happy manner. 
Possessing in a high degree that faculty of the mind which 
isdefined\y metaphysicians to be the tracing of resemblan- 
ces or analogies between distant objects, he often exert- 
ed it in the halls of justice, producing a wild and roaring 
discord from all within the reach of his voice. 

Mr. Smith at different times had many law students. Among 
them may be mentioned the Hon. Robert Smith, who began 
his studies here but did not complete ihem, and who is the 
same gentleman that afterwards became secretr.ry of the na- 
vy and secretary of state under the United Slates govern- 
ment. Another of his students was Mr. David M'Mecken, 
who was one among the most eminent lawyers of the city of 
Baltimore. Another was David Bush, w^ho was major in the 
revolutionary war. and who died on his bed of glory at the 
battle of Brandy wine. Mr. David Grier, who practiced law 
and died inYork, was likewise a student of Mr. Smith. 

Mr. Smith left « widow and two out of five children sur- 
viving him: they are all now gathered to the house ap- 
pointed for all living. 

The above is all we have been able to collect concerning 
a man who was once among the earliest and warmest friends 
of the liberties of America. 



RET. I.UCAS RAUS. 

The Rev. Lucas Raus, son of Lucas and Justina Raus, 
was born in May, 1723. His native city was Hermanstadt^ 
jB 



14 tlOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

Ihe capital of Transylvania, which formerly was annexed to 
Hungary, but now belongs to Austria. Tiie family to which 
lie belonged, had produced many eminent divines in Hun- 
gary ; and among them may be mentioned his own father, 
and his maternal grandfather. 

Mr. Raus spent the first twenty years of his life in the 
city of his birth. There he pursued his studies under the 
direction of his father, preparing himself for the pulpit. 
Ilermanstadt being mostly a catholic city, Lucas was indu- 
ced to visit the institutions of other places, in order to coia- 
plete his studies. Accordingly he left the paternal mansion 
in 1743, and proceeded to Tresburg, the caj)ital of Hunga- 
ry. At this place he continued four years in the prosecu- 
tion of his studies, when in May 1747, he removed to Leip- 
5^ic,*in upper Saxony. In the year 1749 he removed from 
Leipsic to Jena, the place which, on the 14lh of October, 
1306, witnessed the triumph of the French over the Prussi- 
an army. At Jena he resided but a few months, for he had 
now completed his studies, and was, by travtjing, adding 
the polish to the polite world to the erudition of the scholar, ii 
His intention was now to visit Holland, and then to return I' 
cirectly to the residence of his fatlier. He proceeded to 
Anisterdam, where, at that time, there was a general spirit 
of migration to America. Much that was inviting was said 
of this part of the world; and emigrants from various parts 
-were sailing weekly from that city. Mr. Kaus caught some 
of the feeling which then prevailed; and as a good oppor- 
tunity olfered itself, he determined to cross the Atlantic, 
spend a few months in this country, which was represented 
. as the land of promise, and then, returning to Europe, com- 
xnence the labors of his holy calling. Accordingly in tlie 
Tear 1750, Mr. Raus sailed from Amsterdam and arrived at 
Philadelphia. 

In a few years after his arrival in that city, he changed 
his views as to his future residence: for, although youthful 
affection still bound him to Hermanstadt, which he liad not 
visited since he first left it in 1743. yet he determined to 
spend the remainder of his days in this country. 

Soon after he determined to remain in this country, he 

■j^ ;*The uuiversity of Leipsic was founded in the year li69, ajid 
lias Ign^ been one of the most celebrated ia Europe. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 15 

<?omrnencecl his ministerial labors. Being invited to scttiG 
in Gerniantown, lie accepted tiie invitation and preached in 
that place and its vicinity for three or foiir years, when ho 
removed to York. 

i\Ir. Rails was married at Gerniantown, in 1753, to So- 
phia, daughter of iMr. George Gemling then deceased. 

At York, Mr. Raiis continued to reside, until the time of 
his death, as tlie cninister of the Germari Lutheran congre- 
gation in this place. In connexion with the churcfi in York^ 
he presided over the spiritual concerns and occasionally 
preached to four or five congregations in the Vicinity of the 
town. 

This faithful servant in the vineyard of Christ, was at length 
called to rest from {lis labors. In the latter part of June. 1798, 
hfe was attacked with a billions fever. The disease raged 
with great fury for the space of about two weeks, when, on 
the 1 Ith-of July, 1783, the subject of it departed this life, 
in the 65th year of his age. 

Mr. Raus was eminent as a scholar. Having devoted 
nearly all the first thirty years of his life to undisturbed 
and undivided study, he was not only a profound theolog- 
ian but an accomplished scholar in the polite branches. A- 
niong the languages with which he was familiar, were the 
German, the English, the French, Latin, Greek and He- 
brew. 

Mr. Uaus was the father of twelve children, four of whom 
snrrived him, viz., Margaret, Elizabeth, Catharine and 
jolm. 



GENENAI. HE^RY MII^LER. 

General Henry Miller was born near the city of Lancas- 
ter, Pennsylvania, on the 13th of February, 1751. Early 
attention was paid to his edvication, but his father, who was 
a farmer, thought it necessary to place his son within the, 
walls of a university. The high school' of Miller, as. of 
Washington and Franklin, was the world of active lifr?. 

Toung Miller, having received a good English ediKationj 



16 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

was placed in the office of Collison Pteed, Esquire, of 
Reading, Pennsylvania, where he read law, and studied 
conveyancing. Before liowevcr he had completed his 
studies, he removed to Yorktown, in about tiie year 
1769. At this place he pursued his studies under 
the direction of Samuel Johnson, Esq. At that time 
Mr. Johnson was Prothonotary of York county and in his 
office Mr. Miller acted as cleik. 

The sul)ject of our memoir was married on the 2Gth of 
June 1770, about vvjiich time he purchased u house in 
Yorktown, and furnished it. Here be supported bis family 
mostly by the pri)fits arising from conveyancing, and from 
his clerkship:* for as lie found that he did not possess tal- 
ents for public speaking, he devoted his industry and atten- 
tion to those subjects. 

The war of ihe revolution was now approaching; and 
young Miller's noble soul was kindled to a generous indig- 
nation as he heard and read of the wrongs of his country. 
A man like him could not doubt a moment. On the 1st of 
June 1775, he commenced his march from York to Cam- 
bridge, Rlassacbiistats. He went out as first lieutenant of a 
rifle company under the command of C;iptnin Michael Duu^ 
del. This company was the first that inarched out of Penn- 
sylvania, and was, too, the first that arrived in Massa- 
chusetts from any place south of Long Island, or west of 
the Hudson. The company to which he belonged was at- 
tached to Colonel Thompson's riHe regiment, which receiv- 
ed the first commissions issued by congress, and took rank 
of every other regiment. 

On the arrival of the company at Cambridge, the gallant- 

*Mr. Miller was appointed, by (he general nsi«enibly, collector of 
the excise for York county, in October of the years 1772, 1773, and 
177t. In November of the latter of these years he became clerk 
in the office of Charles Lukens, then sheriff of the county. In the 
above, amontj other employments, he was engaged until the time of 
his march to Cambridge. 

Extract: "A petition from Michael Halm, of the town of York, 
was presented to the house and read, praying to be appointed the 
collector of excise for the county of York, in the place of Henry 
Miller, the late officer, now absent in the continental service at 

Boston. , , . , , . . 

"Kesolved, that Michael Hahn be, and he is hereby appointed 
collector of excise iu the county of York, for the ensuing year." 
Votes qf the Assembly for Oct. 17, 1775. 



telOGRAPHlCAJU SKETCHES. l°! 

ty and zeal of Miller prompted him to attempt somo military 
act before the remainder of the regiment could arrive. 
His active mind immediatiily formed a plan to suprise the 
British guarJ at Bunker's Hill. Tliis was on the second 
day after his arrival, fresh from a march of five hundred 
miles, a march which would have deprived ordinary men 
of their fire of feeling, but which left Aliller in the glowing 
enthusiasm of a young soldier, impatient of delay. Miller 
Bubmitied the plan to hia captain, whose courage was more 
tempered with prudence Sc who wished to decline engaging in 
such an attack, alleging, as reasons against it, the small num- 
ber of his own men and his want of acquaintance with the 
ground, and works. But Millet, who was never checked 
in his military career by the appear'^nce of danger, inform- 
ed his captain that if he should dncline engaging personally 
in the attack, he would solicit General Washington to ap- 
point him (Miller) to the command. Thus urged, the 
captain allowed his laudable prudence to be overcome by 
the ardor of his gallant young lieutenant, and his own de- 
sire to effect the capture' of the gimrd. The attempt waf3 
t'.'Mle — but, a3 the captiin had predicted, without accom- 
plishing the object. They were obliged to retreat — though 
not till after several British soldiers bit the dust, and sever- 
al others were prisoners in ths hands of the gal- 
lant Yorkers. Captain Doudel's health being very 
much impaired, he was obliged to resign not long af- 
terwards, when Miller was appointed to the command 
of the company. From that time onward, he was dis- 
tinguished as a most enterprising, intelligent, and valuabla 
officer. 

In 1776, bis company with the regiment to which he be- 
longed, commanded at first by Colonel Thompson, and af- 
terwards by Colonel Hand, marched to New York. In 
1777, on the 12th of November, he was promoted by con- 
gress to the office of Major in the same regiment. In the 
year following, (1778) he was appointed lieutenant colonel 
commandant in the second regiment of Pennsylvania. In 
ibis latter office he continued until he left the army. 

' ^ler was engaged, and took an active and gallant part, 

? several battles of Long Island, York Island, White 

5 Trenton, Princeton, Head of Elk, Brandy wine, Ger, 

wn, Monnaoutb, and in a considerable number ofoth^ 

9 B 



18 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHE§. 

er but less important ronflirts. At th^ battle of Monmouth, 
he displayed a most signal brnvfry. Two horses were, du- 
ring that conflict, succt^ssivelyj^hot from beneath this youth- 
ful hero and patriot; hut thu in nothing depressed the vig- 
our of his soul, for mounting a third, he was in ihc thick of 
battle. 

A companion in arms writmg of iVIiller, in the year 1801, 
says, *''He was engaged in most of th? battl'S of note in the 
middle states. He was selected as one of the b^^st partisan 
officers. It would take much time to enamernte the many 
engagements he was in — as well general eng^gement!^, as 
such as are incident to light corps. It may, with confi- 
dence, be stated, that he miij^t h ive risked his person in fif- 
ty or sixty confli ts with the British foe. He servtd wiih 
the highest reputation as an heroic, intelligent, and useful 
officer" In a letter of Washington to Congress, dated 
<^Trenton Falls, D^cembt^r 12, 1776,'' are these words: — 
^^Capt.iin IV|ill*^r, of Colonel Hand's regifuent, also informs 
me,th:»t a body of the enemy were marching to Burlington 
yesterday enorning. He had been sent over with a strong 
scouting party, and, at day break, fell in with their advanced 
guards consisting of about four hundred Hessian troops, 
who fired U[)on him before they were discovered, but with- 
out any loss. and obliged him to retreat with his party, and 
to take boat" General Wilkinfton, in his memoirs, states 
that Major Vlillerof Hand's riflemen, was ordered by Geneial 
Washi igtou to check the rapid movements of the enemy in 
pursuit of the American army, while retreating across tfce 
state of New Jersey. The order was so successfully execu- 
ted, and the advance of a powerful enemy so embarrassed, 
that the Acnerican troops which afterwards gained the inde- 
pendence of their country, were preserved from an overthrow 
which would have proved the grave of our liberties. !n a 
note to thememoirs, the author says, among other things, 
♦*Gen. Miller, late of Baltimore, was distinguished for his cool 
bravery wherever he served. H ' certainly possessed the en- 
tire confidence of General Washington." To multiply 
quotati(vns would be useless : suffice it to say that Miller is 
mentioned by many of the American historians; and al- 
ways with much applause. 

When Miller first engaged in the war of the revolution, 
he had little or no other fortune than his dwelling-house. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 19 

But before the close of the war he was reduced to such ne- 
cessitii'S to support his fHinily, that he was com^telled to 
sell the house over the heads oi his wife and childien. He 
sometimes spoke of this as a very hard case, and in terms 
so pathetic as tc» excite the most tender emotions. At oth- 
er times he woul.lsay I have noty«t done all in my power 
to serve my b«^loved county; — my wife and my children ( 
irust will yetseH better days. In his pleasant manner he 
was heard to siy that, as to the house, the s le had at least 
saved him the payment of the taxes. Cr»Ioftel Miller be- 
ling thus, through his patriotism, hiimiliatin^ly reduced in 
pecuniar)' circumstances, was obiijj^d in the spring of 
1779 to resign Ins commission in the army and to return to 
York. H !re he continued to reside for some years, enjoy- 
ing the love and affection ot all his fellow citizens. In 
Oi-tober 1780, he was ele<ted high sheriff of the county of 
York, and as su( h he continued until the expiration of his 
term of office in November 1783. At the several elec- 
tions in October of the years 178 3, 1784, and 1785, he was 
elected a member of the legislature of Pennsylvania. In 
May 1786 he was commissioned as Pruthonotary of York 
county, and in August of the same year he was appointed 
9 justice of the peace, and of the court of Common Pleas. 
In the year 1790 he was a member of the convention which 
framed the present constitution of the commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania. He continued in the office of Prothonotary 
^ntil July 1794. In this year (1794) great dangers were 
apprehended from the encroachments of the English on our 
western territories. Wayne was, at that time, carrying our 
irms against the Indians into the western wilderness. A- 
^reably to the requisition of the president of the United 
States, contained in a letter to the secretary of war dated 
1l9th of May 1794, Pennsylvania was required to furnish 
iber quota of brigades towards forming a detachment of 
10,768, militia, officers included. At this time Miller was 
general in the first brigade, composed of the counties of 
York and Lancaster, and belonging to the second division of 
Pennsylvania Militia commanded by Major General Hand. 
This division, with several others, was required to be in rea- 
diness to march at a moment's warning. 

In the same year was the western expedition^ an expedi- 
tion occasioned by an insurrection in the four western 



so BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

counties to resist the laws of llio Union. At this tirno Gen- 
eral Miller was appointed, and went out as quarter master 
General. In the same year he was anpointei], by General 
Wasliington, supervisor of the revenue for the district of 
Pennsylvania. In this office lie acted with such abili- 
ty, punctuality and integrity, that no one ever laid the least 
failure to his charge. But in ISOl, Mr. Jefferson hav- 
ing been elected President, General Miller was removed 
from the office of supervisor, and was succeeded by Peter 
Muhlenburg. 

Upon this event he left York on the 18th of November 
1801, and removed to Baltimore, where he resided for some 
years as an honest and respectable mercliant. At the com- 
mencement of the war in IS 12, his soul was kindled to tho 
former fires of youtiifnl feeling. Relinquishing his mercan- 
tile pursuits he accepted the appointment of Brigadier Gen- 
eral of the militia of the United States stationed at Balti- 
more, and charged with the defence of Fort M'Henry and 
its dependencies. Upon the enemy's leaving the Chesa- 
peake bay, the troops were discharged, and General Mille|r 
again retired to private life. 

In the spring of 1815, General Miller left Baltimore, and 
returned to his native state, Pennsylvania. He now recided 
on a farm at the mouth of the Juniatii river, in Cumberland 
county, devoting himself with Roman virtue, to ag- 
ficultural pursuits. But his country soon called him 
from his retirement. The enemy having again made their 
appearance before Baltimore, he marched out with the 
Pennsylvania troops in the capacity of quarter master gene- 
ral. He again after a short time, returned to Pennsylvania] 
to reside on his farm at the mouth of the Juniata. At thai 
place, like a Cincinnatus, away from the tumult of war, bcj 
continued to reside until the spring of 1821. At that time,i 
being appointed prothonotary of Perry county, by Governor 
Hiesier,he removed to Landisburg, the seat of Justice for 
that county. He continued to live at Landisburg, until 
Ji€ was removed from office, by Governor Shulze, in March 
1854. On the 29th of the same month, the legislature of 
yeonsylvania began to make, though ftt a late period, some; 
compensation for his important revolutionary services.'. 
'I^hey required the state treasurer to pay him 240 dollars im- 
attdialelyj and an anmuity of the same sum during the reA 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 21 

niainder of his life. But General I\Iiller lived not long en- 
ough to enjoy this rigl'teous provsion. He removed with 
his family to Carlisle; but he had hardly fixed his abode 
there, and caught the kind looks of his relatives and friends, 
\vhen he was called by the messenger of peace to a distant 
ahd far brighter region where the music of war is un- 
ijeard, and the storms'^of contention are at rest. He was seiz- 
ed with an inflamation of the bowels and died suddenly, ni 
the bosom of his family, on Monday the 5th of April, l824. 
(l)n Tuesday afternoon, the mortal part of the hero and the 
jjatriot was consigned, with military honours to the small 
and narrow house. 

In private life General Miller was friendly, social, and be- 
nevolent. He was generous even to a fault. 

In public life, he had, what lord Clarendon says of 
-Hampden, a head to contrive, a heart to persuade, and. a 
ihand to execute. 



Col. Michael Schmeiser of York county was one of that 
virtuous band who in the gloomy period of 1776, when supe- 
riorworth alone gave claim to distinction, were appointed to 
command. At the unfortunat capture of fort Washington, he 
vas taken prisoner; & during the distressing captivity which 
.^cceeded that event, the zeal St animation with which he ad- 
vocated his country's cause, inspired all his fellow prison- 
ers with the hope that their labours were not in vain: while 
making use of the privilege attached to his rank as a captain, 
his unremitting exertions to alleviate their sufferings reflect- 
ed honourably on his goodness and humanity. 

During theRevolution as well as afterwards, Col. Schmei- 
ser was repeatedly elected a member of the legislature of this 
state, where his intelligence and his warm attachment to our 
political institutions enabled him to act with honour lo him- 
self and his constituents. Possessing an enlightened, hen- 



%'Z BIOGRArniCAL SKETCHES. 

tsi and independent mind, he was liberal in his views, man- 
ly in his conduct, and superior to selfish considerntioiis. The 
scenes of domestic life under his influence were peaceable 
and linppy;— and in the relative duties of friendship and so- 
ciety, he was warm, disinterested and benevolent. 

Through his habits of temperance and moderation, the 
weight of nearly 70 years had but partially atTected his ro- 
bust constitution. He lived to exult in tlie 34th anniversary 
of iiis country's independence. ITe died en 7th July, iSlO, 
deservedly lamented by a long train of relatives, friends and 
fellow citizens. 



REV. SAMUEL BACOIS^. 



1 



Samnol Bacon was born at Sturbridge, Massachusetts, on 
ihe 2-2d of July, 1782. Having prepared himself in aa 
tinder-schooI, he became a student in the university of 
Cambridge, at which institution he was afterwards graduated^ 
On leaving ^he college he went forth "in quest of fortunj 
and a name." Frosn New-England he went to Lancastei, 
Pa., and there he was for some time principal ofthe ''Frankli 
College." His leisure hours were now spent in the stud; 
cfthe law, and conducting the "Hive," then a periodica 
paper of some literary merit. From Lancaster he came t( 
York; and this town he afterwards considered as his home 
Here he was at first a classical teacher in the ''York County 
Academy," and in this task of instruction he acquired thf 
good will of all his pupils, and became the admiration of al 
that knew him. Becoming weary of the pursuit, which i 
at least irksome and tedious, he applied for a commission in 
the service of his country, and was appointed a lieutenant 
of marines. He was soon afterwards apj)ointed a quarter' 
master, with the rank of captain. In the year 1814, he was 
married at York to Anne Slary Bernitz, daughter of Jacob 
Bernitz, Esq. She died in the succeeding year, leaving a 
son who still lives. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ^^ 

Whilst yet an officer of marines, he resumed th« 
study of the law with a distinguislied advocate in the city 
of Washington, and was admitted to the bar in that metrop* 
plis. At the battle of Biadensburg he was attached to com- 
nodore Barney "s corps, and was llie officer who conducted 
he retreat. In the year 1815 or i6, he resigned his corn^ 
jmission, and returning to York he commenced the practice 
pf the law, and received the appointment of deputy altor- 
liiey general for the county. About this lime lie began tp 
|be seriously attentive to things relating to his eternal 
kvelfare; and he evinced his sincerity by the bent practical 
hroofs. He labored continually for the establishing of Sun- 
day schools ; and owing to his extraordinary exertions there 
were at one time, in twenty six schools of this county, about 
2000 scholars. He commenced a course of theological 
reading, whilst yet in the practice of the law. Upon 
relinquishing his profession he was ordained a deacon in 
the Episcopal church by Bishop White. He then travelled 
lasan agent of the Missionary and Bible society through 
this and the neighboring states, soliciting donations, estabr' 
lishing Sunday Schools, and endeavouring Tr» do good in the 
great office to which he iiad been called. At length he was 
appointed by the heads of government the agent of the Uni^ 
ted States to accompany the first adventurers of the Coloni-. 
zation Society to their intended settlement on the African 
coast. There, at an English settlement called Cape Shilling^ 
he died of a fever incident to that countrv, on the 3d of 
May 1S20, aged S8 years. 

Bacon perished in a land savages, far removed from 
all that could sir.ooth his passage to the tomb, or uphol4 
}iim in the hour of death. But his was the hope of a 
christian,&. he leaned on the arm of his God. "No storied urnj. 
nor proud mausoleum mark the spot of his repose: but the 
poor savage as hepasses over the place wherehis dust sleeps, 
will drop a tear to the memory of the friend of man. 

The following remarks appeared in the Baltimore Ameri-< 
can shortly after Mr. Bacon's decease: 

*'The talents of Mr. Bacon had opened a bright scenes 
before him; — His professional career, though short, afford- 
ed sufficient evidence of his abilities to promise honour and 
wealth in its pursuit. With a future so radiant, ordinar/ 
human nature would have sought no oiher pathj — but th^ 



'■Z-i BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

.restlessness of his virtue held out a higher aim for a noble 
'ambition. Greater objects opened to his view than any 
'which the world could present; — a more serene sky shone, 
'and a sweeter and calmer. light beanried on his heart. For- 
? saking the bar for the pulpit, he was an able and sincere am- 
bassador of his divine master. Tiie same holy scntimen:s 
', which gave his able mind and pious heart to the service of 
\hisGod, brought from him a tear of sympathy for the wrongs 
and sufferings of the injured African. He embarked in tie 
: cause of justice and of feeling, St fell a noble martj^r to h.s 
! God and h.is country. Wliat he might have been, if the blast 
of death had not so untimely j asstd over him, the blessings 
'of posterity would have told. 'I'he same n)an who no\y re- 
j poses in death on a desert shore, might have become the 
('Moses of his own flock — tlie regeneration of many an Afri- 
can soul. America owes a tribute to his loss^ and friend^ 
' ship will cherish an enthusiastic feeling ibr his pious and 
patriotic martyrdom.'^ 



MICHAEL. EURICH; 

Michael Eurich, (father of Michael Eurich, director of 
the Poor House, in 1821-2,) enlisted in 1777 as a sold'^r 
in Col. Hartley's Hegiment for the term of 3 years, or ui- 
til the end of "the revolutionary war. While he was n 
command at Wyoming in the winter of 1780, his feit 
through the inclemency of the weather were nearly froz n 
oft", in consequence of which he was unable to continue la 
the service of his country. As Mr. Eurich became \j 
this misfortune unable to provide for himself and his fani- 
ly, and as he had never received any donation land, tie 
Legislature of Pennsylvania on the 29th of March 180k, 
granted to his heirs tlie donation land to which he wouU 
have been entitled, had he served to the end of the rev- 
olutionary war. 

In remembrance and as a reward for his services, the 
legislature of Pennsylvania on the 29th of March 1824, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. «5 

l^rarifed to ?iis survIvirgMife,ll:ewidcw Cafharire Eurich, 
the sum of 40 dollars iuimtdialely, and an annuity of 40 
dollars for life- 



GJ^N. JAMES EWING. 

Jarres Ewin^ was born in about theyetir 1726, in Ma- 
nor town siiip, Larcaster county, Pennsvlvania, of" Irish 
parents. We have been unable to collect mu(h infoima- 
tion respecting the early life of" Gen. Ewing — little more 
indeed, than that he leceived a liberal education and re- 
moved, when quite a youth, to Hellam town&ihip, York 
county, where he resided at be time of his death. He was 
engaged, when only about nineteen yeais, in the Indian, 
or as it is commonly called, the French war — and was, we 
believe, a lieutenant in Bratldock's aimy, and present at 
the fatal engagement known as *»I5iackl(!ck's Defeat." 

In 1771, Ewing was elected to reptpsent York counfj 
In the Ueneral asFembly of Pennsylvania, and was re elect- 
ed in 1772 and the three succeeding- years. 

At the commencement of the revolution, being then a- 
bout forty years of age, he was appointed Brigadier Gene- 
-al in the serAice of the United States, and was .-rttached 
:owhat was called the *-FIying Ccimp." Duiingthe war 
-jf the revolution, Geners'l Ewing was present at the battle 

af Trenton, and several other important engagements and 

)f his conduct as a patiiot and soldier, we can speak" in no 
iiigher terms than to say that it was such as to receive the 
warm approbation of the commander in chief. 

He next appeared in the service of the public as Vice 
President of Pennsylvania, under the constitution of 1779, 
during the time that John Dickinson was President of the 
Supreme Executive Council of the commonwealth. 

In 1795, he was elected to the Senate of this state, in 
which office he was continued, by annual re-election, until 
the year 1799. 
In the year ISOOjGen. Ewing retired from public life to 

c 



2* BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 

hia country seat in Hellam township, in Ihis county.— 
Here, in the c njoj ment of a qtiiet he had not known tluVmg 
many years he passed (he evening of his days— here, sur- 
rounded by fiiends who esteemed gloved him for his private 
virtues, he could Irokbiick vith pleasure and pride upon the 
many proofs he had received of the confidence of his fellow 
citi7ens— a confidence vhich he felt was auihoiized by the 
faithfulness with which lie had discharged every duty, as a 
man, a citizen, a soldier and a legislator,, which, in a long 
course of active public labor, had devolved upou 
him. 

Gen. Ewing; died in March, 18C6, aged about 70 vears. 
Of him it was said, nt ihe time of hisdtath, what can he 
said of very few who die after an active life of three UQit 
and ten years: ''He died wiihuut an enemy." 



REV. JACOB GOERING. 

The Rev. Jacob Goering, the second son of Jacob and 
Margaret Goering. (emigiants from Germany.) was born i|i 
Chanceloid towship, in this county, on the 17th of Januarj, 
1755. His father, who was a farmer, was not particj- 
ularly attentive to the education of his son — ytt he gavk 
him all the advantage that could be derived from the com- 
mon 8cl)0( Is in the neijihborhood. Young Gtoring wap 
soon distinguished for his assiduity in the pursuit Jf 
knowledge — hii? days and a great part of his nights went 
spent in reading His steps, in every thing he undei 
look, were those of a giant, and quickly led him far in ao- 
vance of all his companions who had equal opportunities « 
advancement. Such was his economy ottime, and hk 
passion for study, that scarcely a moment of his youth wal|t 
spent in idler.ess : for in the intermissions of labor, whei 
abroad in the field, he drew his book frrm his pocket, ani 
improved the short, but by him dearly prized interval. Hi» j 
father had but little hope of making a farmer of his son; 1 
for tlie studiousness of his habits but ill accorded witili 
that constancy of attentive labor which good husbandry al- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ^7 

^/ays demands. Younjj Goering, who was a christian, was 
saon designed for the ministry, and with that view pursued 
his studies. At an early ag-e he was a teicher of an Eng- 
lish school in the neighborhood of his father's house ; by 
which means he Iiad a better opportunity of prosecuting the 
studies he so much delighted in. 

When about eighteen years old, young G3ering remov- 
ed to Lancaster to pursue his studies under the direction 
of the Rev. Mr. Helmuth. While with Mr. Heimuth, he 
acquired a knowledge of the Latin, Greek and Hebrew 
lan^i'uages. He remained in Lmcaster two years, at the 
end of which time his theological studies were comple- 
|ed. 

From Lancaster he went to Carlisle, and preached t^ 
the Lutheran congregations in that town and vicinity. Af- 
ter a few years residence in Ci)mberland county, he remo- 
ved to D )ver township, in this county, and preached to 
the Lutheran congre;i;ations in that neighburliojd, still con- 
|tinuing his stated services at Carlisle. While residing in 
jBover township he mas married* to Elizabeth, daughter 
/of the Rev. Nicholas Kurtz, who was at that time pastor of 
the German Lutheran con<»;re;»;a*ioa in York. 

About the year ir86, Mr. G;>ering was invited to take 
<;harge of the Lutheran congregaiion in York, and accept- 
ed the invitation. Alter preaching five or six years here, 
Jje received and accepted an invitaiitm to preach to the 
congregation in Hay^erstovvn, Maryland. Daring his ab- 
sence from York of twelve or fifteen months, there was no 
preacher to the Lutheran congregition here; and such was 
thelove entertained bvthe members for their former pas- 
tor, that they earnestly entreated him to return, and per- 
sisted so warmly in their entreaties that he was at length 
induced again to take charge of the congregation. 

Mr. Goering continued to minister to the congregation in 
York until his decease. He died at his residence in this 
place on the 2rth of November, ISOT, leaving to survive 
fiim a wife and eight children, with a numerous congrega= 
tion who mourned for him in tears. 

Mr. Goering wrote much, though he published but little. 
His manuscripts contained much that marked his original 

♦Goerin? had previously been married ; but his first wife di<&d 
y^ung anJ childless. 



%8 BIOGRAFHlCAL SKETCHES. 

and energetic mind. Tliese valuable papers, with all the 
letters lie had received, he coinnitted ^> tlie flames during 
his last illness. The author of the yE jeiad commaoded 
the last six books of his poem to he committed to the 
flames ; but happily th? order was not executed — and well, 
too, would it have been if the maniiscri|)t3 of Mr. Goering 
had n »t shared that fate to which many men of genious in 
their last hours wish to see most of their works consigned. 
Viewing the worhl as passing away, and themselves about 
to take an eternal farewell of all the thin'j;s of earth, they 
wish every thing they have done to pass with them into ob- 
livion. The rnannscripts of Mr. Gosling did not contain 
disquisitions on theological subjects only — they embraced 
many inquiries into the oriental languages, with translations 
from the m!)st beautiful works of Aiabic poets. 

As a njan of pr-dound th >ught and deep investigation, 
£S an elegant scholar and eloquent public speaker, as a. 
strict observed of every social and domestic duty, as a 
warmhearted and ch iritable christian, Jacob Goevin^ &Uiod 
pre-eminent; and many genentions may pass away before 
the world will look upon his equal. 



GEN. JOHX CLARK. 

Gen. Clark was born about the year 175 U h Lancaster 
county. Pa. When ab)Ut twenty four years old he enter- 
ed theservice of his country, and was distinguished during 
the war of the revolutiun by his zeal in the cause of lib- 
erty. 

Early in life, G':jneral Clark held a number of civil and 
military ofties, the duties of all of which he faithfully dis- 
charo-ed. Among otirer trusts committetl to him during 
the revolution was his appoiritmi^nt by ("ongress, on the 
6th of February. 1778. as one of the auditors for the army 
under General Washington. 

We have now in our possession a number of oriiiinal co 
pi<^s of letters to General Clark, from General Washington, 
General Greene, and other distinguished officers of the 



BSOGRArHiCAL 8KBTCHB*- 



f.9 



revoktion; hud from tliem we learn that Clark was a 
familiar correspondent oi" the father of our country auq of 
Taanj of his illustrious contemporarie?. 

Gen. Ciark had just commenced the jiracticc of law* 
when the iroablesone times of the rovoiutiori came on — 
end receiving, shortly afterward the j;pp.>intment of £i4- 
de-cainpto Gin. Greene, he abaiidonoii his practice bid 
devoted his whole services to his country. 

Some years after tlie terminathm rf the r vol quo Qarr 

struggle, Gen. Clark resumed the prnclice of law, and cou- 

inued in it ualil the time of his death, which was in iL^ 

(ear I8l9. On the i27ih of December, in that yeir, he :;i- 

tended conrt, and parsued his business as usual — in trie 

evening of that day he went to bed al ab tjI half past eight 

j o'clock in his ujual health — and at ni.ie o'clock o.i tb« 

i same evening his race on e<irth was run. 

' At the tune of his death. Gen. Ciark was about 68 year.* 

of age. 

j George Ciark, now living in York, U a son of tl\e Gencr- 
/al. There are also several cf his daug'itera yet residing 
here. 

1'he foltowiiifi IS a copy of a letter fron G;^n. Washiri^'Km 
to Congress. We insert it as a better tvideivco of G m. ^ 
Clark's worth than any thing we could ^.iv in e ilagy of hi«' 
character. 

<'H3ad Quarters, Valley Fogj, Jan. 2, 1778. 
*♦! Akn the liberty of introducing G^n. John Ciark^ ti/d 
bearer of this, to your notice. He enter jd the service al i i.e 
commencement of the'var, and h;isft)r sa.u j time past acted 
as aid-do-camp to Major General Gr>^?^! ;. Mj is active* 
sensible and enterprising, and has ren ' 3i\'d me very great 
service since the army has been in Fenasylvania, by procur* 
jng ma constant and certain mtelligince of the rnotiois,artd 
intentions of the enemy. It is somewlut uncertain whalhcr 
the statti ofhis health will admit of hU romiining in the 
military line: if it shoild, 1 shill pjrhaps have occasion lo 
recommand him in a more pirticular m snner to the fdvor of 
Congress at a f itnre time. At present, i can assure you, that 
ifyou should, while he remiina in Ycrkj hsive ^ny occa«itoii-i 

*Hc b&d stuiisd '.sa-Jer SaaiaeS Jo^iOigoa,. E?q . ;, of York. 



for his serrices, you will find hirn not only wiiling, but ver) 
capable of c:Kecuting any of your comraands. 
Keapeclfally, 



GENERAI> JACOB DRITT. 

Gon. Jacob Dritt, of York co".nly, was a military cftirrp. 
in O'jr revolutionary struggle, being a captain in Colonel 
Swopo"'^ battalion of the Pe.nnsylvani?i Flying Camp. He 
was made prisoner at the taking of Fort Washington, nnd 
under-vent, as a consequence of ihal event, a long and cIks- 
tressing captivity. When the linos of our army were at- 
iicked by the enemy, previovisly to the capture of the Fort, 
Captain Dritt with a party of men chiefly of his own cnm,)a- 
ny was ordered in advance to oppoao tho landing of tha 
Bi'itish who came in boats across Haerlem crefek, bolow^ 
Ktrig'sbiidge. He defen led his position with great brave- 
ry^ until hiving lost a number k,C Wm »nc.n,and being nc*r- 
)y SJrroTnded with the Hessian Riflomsn on one aide, en I 
^^^ Bri:!s''( troops on th^ other, he retreated into the f;>rt 
With difliG'ilty an 1 was there cnotur^d. 

O.i the 19th of December 1817, Gen. D.itt, and a yojnf> 
man n:uT\Ovi Giifnth, who i»ad livod with the General, startod 
jil about l<>o'cl )c:k from t!ie York shore, (in tho neighbor- 
hood ofD-itt's plantation) with tho intention of reach;og 
ChififiUon on the opposite shore where liis son Col. John 
Dritt resiJefl. Bit the S i.«^q ich-^nni had increased in t!)0 
ifmltitideof its waters, ice floated in it, and the cold was se- 
vere and the winds high. They were both carried away by 
the torrent, and dro'Vnod. The body of Gen. Driit was 
frjnd some time afterward about 30 miles down the rivftr. 

Tho honourable spirit and manly feelings which wanned 
the arm of the revolutionary patriot, Gen. Dritt, accompa- 
nied him through life. Of flfieen OiBcers who belonged lo 
Col, S^ope^s battalion of York county, and who were taken 
pnjonejs at the battle of Fort Washington, Gen. Dritt was 
thelftst survivor but one— and that onei? now sleeping tbe 
■le«p whiQhJcoi^a no ivsk'^. Ij\ ^ \^ 







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